A 12‑year‑old baseball player from Maple Shade, New Jersey, was rushed to the hospital after a line drive struck him in the neck during a warm‑up session.
Xavier Taylor was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where he remains in the intensive care unit, fighting for his recovery.
A Community United
A candlelit prayer vigil was held at Fellowship Columbia Bank Field, the very diamond where the accident occurred, drawing dozens of neighbors who wore shirts emblazoned with Xavier’s number 6.
Volunteers quickly organized a meal train for the Taylor family and a fundraising drive that has already raised more than $60,000 to help cover medical and living expenses.
Greg Taylor, Xavier’s father, thanked the community for its outpouring of support, saying the family is overwhelmed by the love shown and hopeful for his son’s eventual return to the field.