Zach and Dylan Raise Awareness Through Delmar Little League #gotzachsback

On Tuesday night at a Delmar Little League game held for 11 and 12-year-olds, every mother’s worst nightmare occurred.

It was the first pitch of the night. Twelve-year-old Zach Howard was pitching. Twelve-year-old Dylan Pasta was up to bat.

Dylan hit the ball as hard as he could. Normally, this is something the crowd would go wild over, however, this ball hit Zach right in the jaw.

Players from both teams took a knee as they watched coaches and family help Zach.

Zach lost some teeth on the field and was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and then later transported to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Zach received a titanium plate in his jaw and was dismissed after 24 hours.

Zach’s jersey was cut off at the hospital so the team is now ordering him a new jersey. When he woke up out of surgery, the first thing he said was “Can I sit in the dug out for Friday night’s game?”

Now, you may be thinking, why is this story so different from other situations when players have been hit during baseball games?

Dylan was so destroyed by all of this, he had an idea to start a group which has received international attention. Sherry Gray and Tracie von Arx, who are close to the family, decided they would step in and help.

Dylan, Sherry and Tracie started the Facebook page ‘From First 2 Home Safely’ was started in honor of Zach. This page is all about safe baseball and Zach and Dylan are hoping to raise awareness.

Tracie says with in the past 24 hours, 74,000 have been reached.

Zach is number 2 on the team so people from all over the country and even out of the country have been sending in photos holding up deuces.

Zach’s team has a game tonight at 6 o’clock. Show your support for him and his team by checking out their page and maybe even snapping a picture of yourself!

From First 2 Home Safely’s Facebook Page

#gotzachsback

WBOC’s Sports Director Scott Abraham thought he would show his support as well.