Utah player suffers tragic accident just days before Little League World Series

History is in the making for a Utah Little League team from St. George that becomes the very first team from Utah to get into the Little League World Series.

But unfortunately, a tragic accident has put one of the players in the hospital in critical condition from a head injury.

On Friday in San Bernardino, California, the Snow Canyon Little League All-Star team was celebrating their win in their region tournament.

That win won them a spot in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Their first game is this Friday.

“Never been done before this is the first time,” Jeriah Threlfall whose son plays on the team said.  “They got together and played and practiced hard, two, three and four times a week. They had team night at the coaches house where they watched previous little league series games and broke down film, team parties for bonding.”

But then just after 1 o’clock on Monday morning in Pennsylvania, Easton Oliverson, 12, whose nickname is “Tank”, fell out of a bunk bed and hit his head according to his dad, Jace Oliverson, who spoke with KSL TV from the hospital.

“He just hit the ground super hard. Fractured his head. Fractured his cheek bone,” Oliverson said. “Fell about 6 feet high. It was carpeted, but it’s a pretty hard floor. But he just unfortunately just landed right.”

Easton plays left field and his dad says like the other players he was incredibly excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity to play in the world series.

“Easton is a cool story, he had to work really hard to be a good baseball player so for him to make a team with these type of players it’s a really cool story,” Oliverson said.

It’s still too early to tell just how bad the injury is and what the recovery will be, but Oliverson said he believes in prayer and miracles, and he’s asking people to pray for Easton and their family.

“I’ve always been a firm believer in prayer and the power that comes with it and so if people continue to rally around us that he will make a full recovery. Right now it is slow, they are telling me it’s a cross country race,” Oliverson said.

Oliverson, who is one of the coaches, has asked the team to finish what they started and play on Friday.

Team parents in Utah want to get out to Pennsylvania to support Easton and their own kids. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help parents get there.

Utah hats to support the team can be found here.

And a Venmo account @MiraclesForTank has also been set up to help Easton’s family with medical expenses.

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