Child Collapses, Dies Suddenly During Long Island Little League Game

LIDO BEACH, NY — A community is mourning after a fourth-grader died during a little league game, two days after his 10th birthday, in Lido Beach.

The boy, Lazar LaPenna, died suddenly on Friday during a little league baseball game, Long Beach Schools Superintendent Jennifer Gallagher announced.

LaPenna, 10, was a student at the East School.

Gallagher wrote on Facebook about her concerns with everyone coping with his sudden death.

The school is setting up a Crisis Intervention Team this week for any student "who may need or want any help or any type of assistance surrounding this loss," she wrote.

LaPenna, who had just turned 10, suffered from epilepsy at a young age.

His father, Gregg, said Lazar had smacked a hit and had a seizure from the excitement, he wrote on the Mets True Fans Facebook group, according to GreaterLongIsland.com.

He said the "Mets have lost their biggest fan."

The Long Beach-Lido Beach Little League game was held at Point Lookout Park.

"Please continue to keep the LaPenna family, especially Lazar’s parents and siblings, in our thoughts and prayers," Gallagher said.

Lazar's brother, Gerry LaPenna, was a first base coach during Friday's game and told ABC 7 that Lazar put his hand on his shoulder before collapsing.

"He was a really good kid," Gerry said of his younger brother.

The remainder of the Long Beach-Lido Beach Little League season will be dedicated to the LaPenna family and will be played in honor of their Lazar.