Comments on: Softball Practice Ground Ball Kills Girl

Michigan 12-Year-Old Was Knocked Unconscious On Field And Died One Day Later

[blackbug99]

In this Mega-Media society of today they have no initiative to report anything new. Hell...Coach hit by ball; Kid hit by ball...Balls are dangerous killers. I grew up with Lawn Jarts (The metal tipped ones), no seatbelt laws, and if the guy nextdoor offered you a dollar to cut the grass it was because his grass needed cutting. It's a sad event but things happen. We can put them all in little styrofoam cocoons or we can just get on with life.

[stace34-2009]

This is very sad. However, accidents happen and there is no amount of saftey equipment that will keep your child 100% safe, unless of course your child is in a buble and never let outside. The problem is right away people say helmets. Unless you a helmet is designed right for the field, it would actually cause more injuries then help prevent them. The number of times that this happenes is probably so small that this freak accident really can't be protected against.

[bananaamy]

I am from Grand Rapids, and the news here reported that the ball hit her in the back of the head.

My prayers to the family....

[rushman71]

mennowoman: You totally missed what he said in the first sentence.

[mennowoman]

"Kids need to be as said before "toughened up"." --sugarmice

Well, sugarmice, is Maggie tough enough for you now?

[sugarmice-2009]

A very very sad accident. That's what it was - sad but true - my prayers are with the family.
Growing up (in the 60's) we never wore helmets. Half the time never wore one while playing baseball. Been hit many times with the ball OH and I was hit in the arm (ouch it does HURT like H*E*L*L) at a AAA game . As kids we rode bikes, jumped from rocks into the lake, played hockey at the local outdoor rink (no pads/helmets/etc)
Kids need to be as said before "toughened up". All this protection and parents fawning over their kids like they are glass - is the reason why all this whining today about can't do this, can't do that, wear this wear that... geez.
Grow up everyone and experience life... it has many many amazing things to offer even though you might break an arm or leg ... oh yea.. remember the time I got hung up on the clothesline - broken arm.. parents YELLED at me and I was grounded for being so dumb - but I am a decent person today making a decent living AND not living off parents or relatives

Hope the family realizes it was an accident and leave it at that - again, prayers to the family during this trying period

[rushman71]

kaiyo4u: I agree with you on this. Accidents happen, no matter how concious or protective we could be of ourselves. It did not say in the report where in her head she was hit. Possibly smack dab on her nose. No telling. But if this was a hit in the face, does this call from now on that all kids have to wear helmets with face guards at all times throughout the games. This was just a total freak accident and nothing more.

[rushman71]

Back in the early '90s, my brother was on a young baseball team playing short-stop at the time. One game, as a ball was hit high in his direction, he ran backwards calling the catch. As his focus was on the ball, one of the outfielders was running up to catch it himself, without calling it. He collided with my brother, giving my bro a broken collar bone. He was out the rest of the season.
This could have been prevented, but happened due to poor judgement.
The accident that has taken the life of a young 12 year old girl just fills my heart with sorrow. My condolences goes out to the family and friends.

[kaiyo4u]

mennowoman and InMo;

I grew up in the era before ALL the safety regs for children. I rode my bicycle miles (w/o mom's knowledge) and have never had a problem. yes I had scrapes and scratches (sometimes my knees were completely bloodied), but it was also like a right of passage.

You know, a helmet would not have prevented the death of the coach (hit him in the neck).
Sports have risks associated with them, even track and field sports.

Ever fall down while sprinting? I have, not fun. Do you want me to wear the appropriate padding so I won't hurt myself?

Geez...? Life is full of risks and dangers. All we can do is be made aware of them and if we have to face them, take the best course possible with least amount of damage.

superchez1, I'm with you on this point. Yes it is tragic that she lost her life due a freak accident, but how many millions of kids play softball/baseball (organized and unorganized)?

InMO, football w/o a helmet is called rugby.

[kkbecker-2009]

It is very sad what happened, it was a freak accident. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. But as for the helmets, please we are getting to over protective of kids these days, we never wore helmets when we rode bikes and we are fine. No wonder there are so many sissy's and cry babies in the world now adays. Let the kids be kids, toughen them up.