Dead bat boy Kaiser Carlile's little sister Keisie throws ceremonial pitch

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Keirsie Carlile, threw the first pitch at Liberal Bee Jays' game on Tuesday
She was cheered on at Kansas stadium by fans and devastated parents
She later sat on her weeping father's shoulder during moment's silence
Players wore jerseys with Keirsie's brother Kaiser's initials for the game
Kaiser was bat boy for Bee Jays against San Diego Waves last Saturday
He was hit by an adult player's swinging bat while trying to retrieve a bat
He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but died Sunday evening
Nine-year-old was wearing helmet at time of the fatal incident in Wichita
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Bee Jays to assist Kaiser's family

Published: 11:17 EST, 5 August 2015 | Updated: 15:52 EST, 5 August 2015

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This is the emotional moment the little sister of the Kansas bat boy who was fatally hit by a practice swing threw a ceremonial pitch at the baseball team's first game since the nine-year-old's death.

Keirsie Carlile, the seven-year-old sister of Kaiser Carlile, threw the first pitch at the Liberal Bee Jays' home game against the Seattle Studs on Tuesday, while her parents watched from the stands.

Donning a pink top and leggings, the youngster hurled the ball in front of her, receiving cheers and applause from fans. She was then hugged by players, who wore jerseys sporting Kaiser's initials.

Keirsie was later seen sitting on the shoulders of her visibly distraught father, Chad, as the amateur team held a moment of silence for her brother, who was struck by the practice swing on Saturday.

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WARNING: DISTRESSING SCENES

Touching tribute: This is the emotional moment Keirsie Carlile - the younger sister of Kansas bat boy Kaiser Carlile - threw a ceremonial pitch at the Liberal Bee Jays' first game since her nine-year-old brother's death

Ceremonial throw: Keirsie threw the first pitch at the team's home game against the Seattle Studs Tuesday, while her parents sat in the stands. Above, the youngster bends her arm as she prepares to throw the ball

Same field: Donning a pink top and leggings, the seven-year-old hurls the ball in front of her at Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium - the same place that her brother was struck by a practice swing on Saturday

Sipport: Little Keirsie receives cheers and applause from fans, including her parents, after pitching the ball

Tearful: Keirsie is later seen sitting on the shoulders of her visibly distraught father, Chad (above), as the amateur team hold a moment of silence for her brother, who was struck by the swing while retrieving a bat

Minutes before the tragedy: In this image, Kaiser Carlile - who was wearing a helmet at the time he was hit - sports his red, white and blue team outfit as he prepares for the Bee Jays' game on Saturday afternoon

A banner with Kaiser's initials was hung in his honor at Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium - the same place that the youngster was hit by the unnamed player's swinging bat - on Tuesday night.

The game was the first one since Kaiser succumbed to his injuries on Sunday evening. The Bee Jays had played against Haysville Aviators earlier on Sunday before learning of Kaiser's death.

Following Tuesday's game, which the Bee Jays lost 4-2, the team's head coach, Adam Anderson told the New York Daily News: 'Those games since the incident have been filled with emotions.'

He added: 'Kaiser’s family has been there both times.

'Seeing the family there for these games is such a strong show of support.'

It comes just a day after new photos were released showing the heartbreaking scenes after Kaiser was fatally struck in the head during Saturday's National Baseball Congress World Series game.

In one of the tear-jerking images, Liberal Bee Jays outfielder Gavin Wehby can be seen clutching the little boy to his chest while surrounded by other upset players and umpire Mark Goldfeder.

Kaiser, who is dressed in his beloved red, white and blue team outfit, is clearly unresponsive, with a speck of blood marking his fair hair, while Wehby appears to be shouting at someone out of view.

In another new image, an EMT crew - which was already at the baseball stadium treating a woman who was suffering from dizzy spells - can be seen tending to a critically-injured Kaiser.

Sister of batboy throws out first pitch in brother's honor

Moving: Kiersie was later hugged by Bee Jays players, who wore jerseys sporting Kaiser's initials. Above, the little girl is embraced by Gavin Wehby, who picked up and held her limp older brother after he was struck

Hug: Kiersie wraps her arms around Bee Jays' Luke Sherley before the home game against the Seattle Studs

Father: Chad Carlile pounds his chest during a tribute to his son ahead of the game, which the Bee Jays lost

Team spirit: Carlile - who plans to attend the Bee Jays' next game - high-fives team members on Tuesday

Paying tribute: On Tuesday, the Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball team, announced on its Twitter page (above) that it was 'saddened to hear' of Kaiser's death and would honor him before a future game

And in a third, the youngster - who was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident - is pictured sporting the same team outfit as he prepares for the Bee Jays vs. San Diego Waves game.

Earlier this week, Chad Carlile and Bee Jays players paid tribute at a press conference to the bespectacled little boy, who influenced, and brought a smile to the faces, of everyone he met.

Addressing Kaiser's family, pitcher Kadon Simmons wept: 'It's amazing how much someone can touch your life in such a short time and how big of an influence someone can make.'

Meanwhile, third baseman Brady Cox spoke of a time that Kaiser looked unwell in the dugout.

'I asked him what was wrong. "Man, I'm not feeling well." I was like, "I feel your pain, man, I'm overdue, I understand," he told the boy's family, according to CNN. He was just like, "man, it's alright, you've got more bats left." He gave me a high five and I went to bat. I hit a home run.'

After hearing what the players had to say about his son, Carlile felt compelled to say a few words.

'Me, myself, personally, I just feel bad for the team. I understand, I've got my loss, my son, but it's just as hurtful for them. Kaiser was one to bring a smile to everyone's face,' he said tearfully.

Heart-wrenching: Nine-year-old Kaiser is hugged by outfielder Wehby just seconds after he was struck by an unidentified player's practice swing during the National Baseball Congress World Series game on Saturday

Treatment: An EMT crew - which was already at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita - tends to Kaiser

Emergency: After ambulance arrived on scene, Kaiser - who volunteered for the Kansas team - was rushed to the ICU at nearby Via Christi St. Francis hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries on Sunday

Praying: Bee Jays players knelt in a circle in prayer when it became clear the little boy's injury was serious

Kansas town mourns bat boy with 'infectious spirit'

'I'm not saying I was actually the one who taught him, but I tried to raise him the best I could to be that type of person. I never knew how much he actually touched people until now.'

The grieving father was joined at the televised event by his daughter, Keirsie.

Kaiser - the son of a cousin of Bee Jays general manager Mike Carlile - was running to retrieve a bat when he was hit by a practice swing near the on-deck circle, according to The Wichita Eagle.

Witness Jim Parks told KSN that the little boy took the full force of the bat to his head. 'He (the player) was swinging, and it hit him (Kaiser) in the helmet, knocked him down,' he said.

Nathan McCaffrey, president of the Bee Jays, said he heard the bat impact on Kaiser's helmet.

Wearing a helmet is mandatory during the World Series, an NBC spokesman told the Eagle.

The player involved in the accident has not been identified.

Umpire Goldfeder, a longtime paramedic, immediately rushed to the boy's aid, lifting him out of Wehby's arms and administering first aid on his small body until the EMT crew took over.

Devastating loss: 'Me, myself, personally, I just feel bad for the team. I understand, I've got my loss, my son, but it's just as hurtful for them,' Chad Carlile said earlier this week as he hugged his daughter, Keirsie (above)

Upset: Addressing Kaiser's family at a press event, pitcher Kadon Simmons (pictured) wept: 'It's amazing how much someone can touch your life in such a short time and how big of an influence someone can make'

Unable to hold it in: Third baseman Brady Cox spoke of a time that Kaiser told him he was not feeling well during a game. 'I was like, "I feel your pain, man, I'm overdue, I understand," said Cox (left and right). 'He was just like, "man, it's alright, you've got more bats left." He gave me a high five and I went out. I hit a home run'

Players from both teams knelt in circles in prayer when it became clear the injury was serious.

An ambulance then arrived and Kaiser - who volunteered for the Kansas team - was rushed to the ICU at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in Wichita, where he underwent emergency treatment.

The Bee Jays, meanwhile, continued the game, rallying in 13 innings to defeat the Waves 13-5.

For most of Sunday, players and fans continued to pray for Kaiser, who was said to be critically ill.

The Bee Jays took the field against Haysville, defeating them 8-0.

Tragically, the team found out that night that the youngster had passed away from his injuries.

'With the permission of the family, and with much sorrow and a very broken heart, I regretfully inform everyone that Kaiser Carlile passed away earlier this evening,' the amateur Bee Jays told CNN in a statement on Sunday night. 'Please keep his family and our team in your thoughts and prayers.'

Kaiser's parents met with the team's players after their son died, and urged them to keep playing in the series, said Mike Carlile, an extended relative of the boy and the Bee Jays' general manager.

Tragic: Kaiser (pictured in a photo from the Bee Jays' website) was running to retrieve a bat when he was hit by a practice swing near the on-deck circle. The swing struck him in the head, knocking him to the ground

Fundraising: A GoFundMe page (above) has been set up by the Bee Jays. It aims to raise $100,000 to 'defer medical expenses' and 'assist Kaiser's family with other needs' - and has already surpassed its target

'We just lost a little, 9-year-old Bee Jay and it's incredibly sad,' Carlile said.

'No one wrote us a book to tell us how to do this. We're just dealing with it the best way we know how and that's to keep coming out and keep honoring Kaiser on the field.'

He added that Kaiser was a 'kid, small in stature, who just wanted to be one of the guys.'

He said Kaiser was eager to get to the ballpark every day, and that watching him interact with the players was entertaining. 'Kaiser and our head coach were very tight. It was special,' Carlile said.

Head coach Anderson said on Sunday night: 'It is such an unfortunate accident and all we can do is be strong for the family. All they wanted us to do was go out there and play a good baseball game.

'That's what we did.'

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Royals, a professional baseball team, announced on its Twitter page that it was 'saddened to hear' of Kaiser's death and would honor him before a future game.

Support: There was an outpouring of support for Kaiser (above) on social media by fans after the accident

Tragic: 'With the permission of the family, and with much sorrow and a very broken heart, I regretfully inform everyone that Kaiser Carlile passed away earlier this evening,' the Bee Jays said in a Facebook statement

Following Saturday's tragedy, Nathan McCaffrey, president of The Liberal Bee Jays, wrote on Facebook: 'As most already know, our 9 year old precious batboy, Kaiser Carlile, was accidentally struck by a bat during the game against the San Diego Waves this afternoon. Kaiser was wearing a helmet. He has been our bat boy for most of the games this summer. He was a part of the team.'

The following morning, at 10.20am, the Bee Jays posted an update on Facebook, saying, 'Hey fans, the situation with Kaiser this morning is very much the same as it was last night: Still in critical condition, but hanging in there. Thank you everyone for all your kind words, thoughts and prayers!'

It was followed by a message from Liberal Mayor Joe Denoyer, assuring Kaiser's team 'that the thoughts and prayers of the entire community are with Kaiser, his family, the Liberal Bee Jay player, his family, and the Bee Jay team as we tearfully try to cope with this tragic accident'.

The Mayor wrote: 'Just as Kaiser has been an inspiration to all those around him, we pray for a miracle, we pray for healing, for a peace of mind, and pray that as a community, we can be an inspiration to all those dealing with this difficult situation.'

Passionate bat boy: Bee Jays president Nathan McCaffrey said Kaiser (pictured at an earlier game) was wearing a helmet when he was struck full-force by the swinging bat during the San Diego Waves game

In action: The popular ball boy (left and right) is the cousin's son of the team's general manager Mike Carlile

Horrified spectator: Witness Jim Parks (pictured) told KSN that the little boy took the full force of the bat to his head. 'He (the player) was swinging, and it hit him (Kaiser) in the helmet, knocked him down,' said Parks

The social media posts sparked an outpouring of support for Kaiser, his family and the Bee Jays.

McCaffrey said: 'We appreciate everyone's love, support, thoughts and prayers during this time. Please continue to pray and keep Kaiser and his family in your thoughts...and prayers.'

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Bee Jays following Kaiser's death.

It aims to raise money to 'defer medical expenses' and 'assist the boy's family with other needs'.

On Wednesday, the Bee Jays had surpassed their initial $100,000 target by nearly $10,000.

Commemorative baseball cards featuring Kaiser are available for a small donation.

The Bee Jays' next game is on Thursday.

Again, the Carliles are planning to watch, Anderson said.

'Incredibly sad': Kaiser's parents met with the team's players after their son died, and urged them to keep playing in the series, said Mike Carlile. 'We just lost a little, 9-year-old Bee Jay, it's incredibly sad,' he added. Above, Kaiser, who was 'tight' with the head coach, is pictured in a different team outfit at an earlier game