12-year-old boy dies after hit with baseball

CHICAGO (AP) – A 12-year-old suburban Chicago boy has died after he was hit in the head with a baseball.

The Cook County medical examiner's office says Eric Lederman of Oswego died Thursday night at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. It was 24 hours after the sixth-grader was hit while playing baseball. School officials say Eric was playing for the Oswego Panthers U12 traveling team. The team is part of the Oswego Softball and Baseball Association.

Association executive president John Thorson says a ball thrown during warm ups struck the boy in the neck. Thorson says it was "a tragic accident." Eric's coach, Brian Zacker, says the boy was an inspiration.

Eric played catcher, third base and center field.