Community Corner

Watch Alex Fitzgerald Throw Out 1st Pitch at Thunderbolts Game

The Oak Forest teen suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a car last year. He received cheers as he strode to the mound at Standard Bank Stadium earlier this month for a pregame introduction.



Last June, Alex Fitzgerald, 12, was coming home after spending weeks in the hospital for a traumatic brain injury he suffered in an April 2012 accident near Hille Middle School.

One of the first things he did was step onto a soccer field after cheering for the team he had played on for winning the championship.

This June, Alex, now 13, stepped onto another field where cheering was involved. But this time it was for him.

Alex threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Windy City Thunderbolts' June 20 game to applause from the crowd at Standard Bank Stadium. Family and friends, as well as players from the Oak Forest Baseball Association, the league Alex participates in.

Check out Oak Forest Patch for complete coverage of Alex's accident, the community's support and his recovery.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here