Last Night, after a Little League Game was postponed due to the terrible evening storms we've consistently seen this week, two children were struck by lightning while exiting the field.

One has passed on, the other in grave, critical condition.

I am deeply saddened as my youngest plays in this league and has competed against these boys numerous times this season. One of the fathers was the head coach and manager.

This tragedy was witnessed by other team mates and families.

I can not imagine the pain that the families are sufferring through this morning.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL INVOLVED.

http://fredericksburg.com/News...2009/06042009/471090

I was at my nephew's LL 10u game when they cleared the fields due to lightning. We had many stragglers. I'll bet this morning, a few folks are realizing that this is not something to be taken lightly, and they are fortunate this story isn't about THEIR child.

I can't imagine the pain that would come from this.

When I heard this last night my heart sunk and everything else just didn't matter at the time. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

This is tragic. The article reports that the boys remained on the field playing catch under the supervision of parents. How does that happen once the game officials have cleared the field?

Followup story on line says the storm had passed, clouds breaking, and people were heading back to the field, after the field was previously cleared by the umps with a 30 minute wait with no further lightning/thunder. Sounds like just a horrid fluke of nature....

hokieone
That about describes what an eyewitness told me today. The storm had passed and no lightning at all for at least 15-20 minutes until the tragic random bolt struck the boys. Almost everyone there was standing around the parking lot waiting to see if the game would resume. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in this tragedy.

Thought I would update this thread with a story from the local paper.

How wonderful it is to see this family return to the ball field.

This family has HUGE COURAGE - God bless them and the other families and players affected by this tragic event.

http://fredericksburg.com/News...2009/06132009/473171

Can't even imagine how tough it would be to return to the ballfield. I saw a tv report on the Little League Yankees last evening.

.

This is indeed extremely sad news.

Tom Skilling, Chicago's WGN TV meteorologist, has reported in the past that lightning can strike from as far away as 15 miles from the storm cell. That evidently is farther than you can hear the thunder.

Here's a couple of primers on lightning safety...

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/lst.html


.

I'm sure that many. many prayers were answered -- this is great news.......

http://fredericksburg.com/News...14/index_html?page=1

Miraculous! Thanks be to God!


Great follow-up, Dutchman.