Stone Family Says Rangers Will Win For Shannon

GRANDVIEW (CBSDFW.COM) - At Chad Stone's house in Grandview, the Rangers game is on full blast.

"Oh! Oh! Man it was close," Chad shouted while watching the game Thursday afternoon with his parents and little girl. "Come on guys!" he yelled at the TV.

The Stone family will tell you they've always loved baseball, especially the hometown Rangers.

Shannon Stone was the team's biggest fan.  "Oh he would be so excited," says Stone's mom SuZann, "He would be so excited."

CBS 11 sat down with the family Thursday as they watched the Rangers battle in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

"We have good days and bad days, but seems like being able to watch the game watch the Rangers do what they did seems like Shannon is still here and part of it," says Chad Stone.

They admit it can be tough too.  "When I watch it it's almost like he was here, because I know how much he loved it and it just kind of makes me have a sense of him being here," says SuZann.

Stone died on July 7 after falling from the stands at a Rangers home game.  The Brownwood firefighter tried to catch a foul ball flipped to him by Josh Hamilton, his son Cooper's favorite player.

The 6-year-old was by his side when Shannon fell over the railing to the ground.

On September 30, Cooper threw out the first pitch during game one of the American League Division Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.  "I know that the day Cooper threw out that first pitch he had the biggest smile the biggest smile of all," says SuZann, talking about how proud her son Shannon would be of that moment.

The Stone's believe the Rangers are destined to make it to the World Series, and they'll be cheering all the way.  "I think we are going to win, I think we are going to win it for Shannon this year. I think we will win the series and it will be for Shannon."

The family says they are thankful for all the support and prayers during the past few months.  They're also really excited about the statue in honor of Shannon and little Cooper the Rangers will unveil next season.