10-Year-Old Baseball Star Dies Suddenly After Championship Game
Young Athlete’s Sudden Death After Championship Win
10-year-old Bryson Funk of Pennsylvania died on June 12, just one day after helping his team, the Linglestown Colts, win a baseball championship.
He pitched the final three innings and struck out the last batter to secure what his family called an “amazing win.”
Cause of Death: Myocarditis
According to a family GoFundMe page, Bryson suffered sudden cardiac arrest caused by myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle.
The Mayo Clinic notes that myocarditis can weaken the heart’s ability to pump blood, sometimes leading to chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or even heart failure.
A Known Heart Condition, but Not the Cause
Bryson was born with coarctation of the aorta and a deformed bicuspid aortic valve. However, doctors do not believe those conditions caused his death.
“It’s something no one could have ever imagined happening to such a vibrant, active guy,” wrote his cousin Nicki Brantner, who also shared “the last picture his parents took of him” after the championship.
Community Grieves and Honors His Memory
Bryson was described as “quite the athlete” and a baseball lover who enjoyed collecting cards and visiting Hersheypark.
