10-Year-Old Baseball Star Dies Suddenly After Championship Game

A 10-year-old Pennsylvania boy has tragically died just one day after helping his baseball team win their championship.

Bryson Funk, a pitcher for the Linglestown Colts, passed away on June 12 after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, according to a GoFundMe page organized by a relative. The cardiac arrest was reportedly brought on by myocarditis.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle that can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood. This can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats. It’s usually caused by a viral infection but can also result from medication or inflammatory conditions. In severe cases, it can lead to blood clots, stroke, or heart failure. Treatment may include medication, procedures, or surgery.

Loved ones say their hearts are “shattered” by the loss. The GoFundMe campaign has raised over $45,000 to support Bryson’s grieving family.

“It’s something no one could have ever imagined happening to such a vibrant, active guy,” Brantner wrote beside “the last picture his parents took of him” from his baseball championship game.

Bryson Funk, 10, pitched the final three innings of his team’s championship game before striking out the last batter for what relatives called an “amazing win.” His cousin, Nicki Brantner, described him as “quite the athlete” and shared a Bible verse to comfort the grieving family.

Funk, who loved collecting baseball cards and visiting Hersheypark, died the next day from cardiac arrest caused by myocarditis. His friend and teammate Elias Vilfort said many people have donated baseball cards in Bryson’s memory.