Dude graduated from the same HS as me.

RIP fellow RoughRider.

 

My nephew is 8 years old, hasn't started real little league yet, this season it's not coach-pitch, but they only play 2-3 inning games. He loves baseball, his parents take the boys to Round Rock Express games all the time.

The one thing his parents and me too have ALWAYS told him is to always, ALWAYS keep your eye on the ball, whether playing or just in the stands.
You're only safe if you're behind the backstop, and maybe not even then.

Unless you're the pitcher or catcher (or plate ump) you can get out of the way of what you see coming.

All that said, it was a terrible accident. My sympathies to Mr. Coolbaugh's family and friends. As well as too the batter who fouled off that pitch. That'll be hard to deal with.

 

Not to change the subject of baseball or anything... but one of my friend's got slammed in the head by a lacrosse ball when he was watching a game... he got knocked out and had to be taken away by a MEDVAC. Luckily he didn't die, but it fractured his skull... they resolved it with surgery, and he's fine now... but he was really lucky on that one.

Feel bad for that guy...

 

One time back when I played Lacrosse for my old school, one of the players on my team accidently flung the ball into the stands and hit his best friends mom right in the face! She claimed to be ok but we gave her ice and a plastic baggie. Lacrosse is one hell of a sport!