A small Pennsylvania town is mourning the sudden loss of 10-year-old Bryson Funk, who passed away just one day after helping lead his youth baseball team, the Linglestown Colts, to a championship win.

On June 11, Bryson pitched the final three innings of the big game, sealing a thrilling victory for his team. But the celebration quickly turned into tragedy. The very next morning, Bryson collapsed at home due to sudden cardiac arrest. His family later revealed that he had been unknowingly living with myocarditis—an undiagnosed inflammation of the heart.

The news sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Dauphin County community. Bryson’s best friend and teammate, 9-year-old Elias Vilfort, was especially devastated. The boys were inseparable both on and off the field—trading cards, hanging out at Hersheypark, and sharing meals together. They were excited to play on the same All-Star team that weekend, something they had looked forward to for a long time.

To honor his friend, Elias drew Bryson’s jersey number on the field and vowed to play every future game in his memory. What was supposed to be a season of celebration has instead become a tribute to a young life gone far too soon.