Schuyler County Little League Honors Lightning Strike Victim

12-year-old Chelal Gross-Matos was struck and killed by a powerful lightning bolt at a little league game in Fredericksburg, Va.

Chelos and another young man were playing catch on their way to the dugout after the umpire ordered everyone off the field as a thunderstorm approached. A massive electrical current coursed through Chelal and injured his unidentified 11-year-old friend, who remains in critical care.

Lives forever changed in a frightening instant, described by witnesses as like a "grenade" going off. That same day thousand of boys and girls were playing baseball and softball in their hometowns too. Many cast a concerned eye to tumultuous skies, some games canceled, some played in light rain.

Bad weather can ruin a Saturday afternoon, but you never expect it to take a life. Baseball in particular represents so much to our families- summertime, teamwork, sportsmanship, a safe learning field that is worth the commitment families and their players make.

So what do we do when one of our young men are taken from us? When you can relate so closely to an event that it hurts you too, even though its not your son, in fact its a thousand miles away. Well Schuyler County Little League wanted to let Chelals family and community to know that we've got your back.

We are feeling your pain and as we continue to celebrate Chelals life by playing the game, we will also honor him by having his number 5 embroidered on our All-Star uniforms. A small, heartfelt gesture, our way of reflecting what his Grandfather, Chester Gross of la Plata said of Chelal, "He loved baseball" and, "He loved his family most of all".