Tragedy struck Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this week when a 19-year-old college baseball player died Wednesday from injuries he sustained after a temporary dugout collapsed on Monday.
Angel Mercado-Ocasio, a freshman at Central Penn College who played shortstop and second base, was volunteering in a youth baseball league when a wooden dugout he and others were in collapsed. Mercado-Ocasio reportedly suffered head injuries and was revived before being taken to a local hospital, according to ABC 27, He spent two days in the hospital before dying. Another unidentified person also received undisclosed injuries.
“Our Central Penn College family is devastated by the loss of Angel,” college president Linda Fedrizzi-Williams wrote in a statement, “As friends who have become family, we are mourning the heartbreaking loss of one of our own promising young athletes who lost their lives while helping others enjoy the sport they loved. He loved a lot.
“No words can adequately express our pain.”
The group attempted to tear down the wooden dugout after the city told them they did not have a permit to build the structure on the ball field in Harrisburg, according to fox43, Head coach Geraldo DÃaz said that some players were “playing around” the dugout and asked them to stop before the dugout collapsed.
Diaz said, “I did my best to protect her.” I still feel responsible.
Matt Maisel, communications director for the city of Harrisburg, told Fox that the city’s Parks and Recreation Department will dismantle the dugout after a review of the site. According to Maisel, no legal action will be taken against the coach or players, nor has any legal action been taken against the city.
Mercado-Ocasio achieved a .167 batting average with 11 hits, two RBIs and seven stolen bases in 17 games for Central Penn.
