Liberal Bee Jays get emotional win days after death of batboy

The National Baseball Congress team that suffered through the tragic death of a batboy just days ago reached the semifinals of the NBC World Series in emotional fashion.

After hitting a game-winning grand slam in the ninth inning, Liberal Bee Jays first baseman Nick Brooks immediately thought of the late Kaiser Carlile, reported The Wichita Eagle.

"First person I would have greeted at the plate would have been Kaiser," Brooks said in a post-game interview, fighting back tears.

Carlile, 9, was struck in the head by a Liberal player's practice swing in the on-deck circle Aug. 1. He died the following day. The team paid tribute to him before Tuesday's game and have changed their jersey to one bearing Carlile's initials.