Trenton Thunder to honor injured South Jersey youth baseball player before game
Community continues to rally around 12-year-old Xavier Taylor as he remains hospitalized following baseball field accident.
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The Trenton Thunder planned to honor a 12-year-old South Jersey boy Thursday night after he was critically injured in what family members described as a freak accident on a baseball field.
Xavier Taylor, of Maple Shade, has been fighting for his life since late last month, when family members said he was struck in the neck by a baseball during warmups on the field.
Support for Xavier and his family has grown throughout the community in the weeks since the accident.
Many of Xavier’s neighbors from Maple Shade were expected to attend Thursday night’s game at Arm & Hammer Park to show their support. Since the accident, Xavier’s baseball team has been selling T-shirts in his honor featuring his No. 6 jersey number, and many supporters planned to wear the shirts to the game.
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Several supporters were also scheduled to have the opportunity to walk the field path before the game.
Messages of support from youth baseball teams across New Jersey and around the country have poured in since last week. The Delaware River Port Authority also illuminated the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia in blue, the color of Xavier’s team.
According to Xavier’s family, he remains hospitalized.
The community has organized several prayer vigils in support of Xavier and his family. The Trenton Thunder also planned to hold a moment of silence before Thursday night’s game.
