BEMIDJI--A 15-year-old baseball player died Sunday after collapsing at a pick-up game in Bemidji.
The Bemidji police and fire departments responded to a medical call at approximately 12:21 Sunday at the Bemidji High School baseball field. The boy was pitching and was struck by the ball after it was hit by a batter, according to a release from the Bemidji Police Department.
The 15-year-old, Zacharie Schaubhut, died later Sunday at a Fargo hospital, according to his grandfather, Steven Schaubhut.
Soon after he collapsed, the Bemidji Ambulance Service arrived on scene and took over medical care, the release said, and transported Schaubhut to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. He was later flown to a Fargo hospital, his grandfather said. The family is unsure what directly led to Zacharie's death, whether it was being hit by the ball or if it was another medical condition, such as an aneurysm, Steven Schaubhut said.
Bruce Dahlin, president of Bemidji Youth Baseball, said Sunday's game was a pick-up game and Steven Schaubhut said there were many parents and fans in the stands.
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Dahlin told Forum Communications that Schaubhut moved to Des Moines, Iowa, last fall and came back to Bemidji to try out for a summer league team. According to Dahlin, who coached Schaubhut when he was 12, baseball was an enormous part of Schaubhut's life.
"I think baseball was the No. 1 thing in his life as far as I'm concerned. He was a very, very wonderful player back when I coached him, and he continued on that path. He was a very good player. He was a star for his team," Dahlin told Forum Communications.
Dahlin said the age 9 through 14-year-old team met Sunday to honor Zach.
"Those kids are sure reeling at this point in time because he was a very wonderful kid." Dahlin said.
Zacharie Schaubhut visited Dahlin at his home with Steve Schaubhut and a fellow player Saturday night, Dahlin said. Dahlin extended his appreciation of Zacharie to his grandfather.
"I told his grandfather that he was becoming an outstanding young man," Dahlin said.
When asked about whether Bemidji youth league players would discuss game safety or wear new protective equipment, Dahlin explained that they wanted to find out more about the incident before making any decisions.
"We don't know what happened exactly. We'd like to be proactive just as anybody else would, but in this case, we almost have to be a little reactive to what happens. When we do get to that point, we'll determine what happens at that point," Dahlin said.
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This memorial was posted on the Bemidji Youth Baseball's Facebook page, along with a collage of photos of Zacharie Schaubhut.
"It is with a heavy heart that our Northern Heat family asks for prayers for the family & friends of Zacharie Schaubhut. May God's love heal your sorrow & may His peace replace your heartache with warm and loving memories. Zach has gone to play at that big field in the sky. May the skies be blue, the grass be mowed & the umpires make the right calls. Until we meet again..."
Austin Erickson of Forum Communications contributed to this report.
