Young Girl Struck By Foul Ball At Blue Claws Game

Courtesy of My9New Jersey

Lakewood, New Jersey (My9NJ) -

What started off as a nice Sunday afternoon at the Lakewood Blue Claws minor league baseball game, quickly turned into a nightmare for one family. While in line at a food concourse, ten-year-old Alexis Pavlinec was struck in the face with a foul ball and rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a concussion and two facial fractures.

“I felt like it hit my face, and then it felt numb because it hit me so hard,” Alexis recalls.

Claire Pavlinec, Alexis’ mother, explained the events after the incident occurred.

“She just kept saying mommy hold my hand please, hold my hand while they were putting her on a board, putting on a neck brace, all the things they need to do to keep her safe, but for a 10-year-old kid when you’re just watching the ballgame seconds before and then you’re being strapped to a platform and a neck brace, she was terrified,” she said.

The Blue Claws offered to send their mascot to the Pavlinec’s home and also issued a statement apologizing for what happened to Alexis saying: “The Blue Claws are deeply saddened by the injuries suffered in the accident and wish Alexis the best in her recovery. The safety of our fans, players and staff is of paramount importance and we will continue to look into ways to best serve and protect everyone that comes to First Energy Park.”

It is important to note that the stadium does have signs throughout the park saying to be aware of foul balls and that the team takes no liability for injury.

The family said that they won’t sue the Blue Claws for money; all they want is more safety at the ball park.

“It’s simply about the netting; we don’t want money that’s not important to us, but the fact that my daughter could have died,” Claire Pavlinec sai

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My9 New Jersey