Oswego Boy Dies After Baseball Accident in Wheaton

This is one of those breaking stories that doesn't have a Geneva dateline, but it resonates strongly for anyone with a son or daughter in youth sports.

A 12-year-old Oswego boy has died from injuries suffered Wednesday while playing baseball for the Oswego Panthers 12U Orange traveling team.

According to Kristine Liptrot, District 308 director of communications, Eric Lederman was playing with the team in Wheaton when he was struck in the neck with a ball during warmups. He was a sixth-grader at .

Wheaton Fire Department Deputy Chief Bill Schultz confirmed paramedics were called to Atten Park at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday for an emergency. He refused to comment further on the call, saying only that Eric was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

From there, Liptrot said he was taken by helicopter to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he died. According to a spokesman with the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, Eric was pronounced dead at 8:04 p.m. Thursday.

"This is a tragedy that affects the entire District 308 family," Liptrot said. "Not only was he a student at Thompson, but many of his teammates were students at our other junior highs."

Liptrot said counselors and social workers are available at Thompson to aid children and adults who may need it. 

Information on funeral services for Eric will be announced on the the Oswego Panther baseball website at oswegobsa.org