The town of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was hit with devastating news after 10-year-old Bryson Funk died just one day after helping his baseball team win a championship game. Bryson had pitched the final three innings for the Linglestown Colts, securing a thrilling victory on June 11. But the celebration quickly turned to heartbreak the next morning when he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest. His family later revealed he had myocarditis an undiagnosed inflammation of the heart.
Bryson’s passing shocked the entire community, especially his best friend and teammate, 9-year-old Elias Vilfort. The two shared a deep bond that went beyond the ballfield—they collected trading cards, spent time at Hersheypark, and often had meals together. Elias honored Bryson by drawing his jersey number on the field and pledged to win future games in his memory. They were set to play on the same All-Star team for the first time that weekend, a dream that tragically never came true.