Cooper Roberts, the 9-year-old paralyzed from the waist down in last year’s July 4 Highland Park parade shooting, threw out the first pitch at Monday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and his favorite team, the Milwaukee Brewers, who have shown their support since soon after the tragedy.
Within days of the shooting, the Brewers learned Cooper is a fan, and his favorite player is outfielder Christian Yelich. The organization paid tribute to him by hanging a jersey in the dugout bearing the boy’s last name and Yelich’s 22 uniform number.
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“It’s a Brewers fan, and we want to show support for him and his family, and the incredibly difficult times they are facing,” manager Craig Counsell said at the time. “You can’t imagine … the strength to go through something like that is unimaginable. We’re doing such a small thing that hopefully can make one part of the day better for him”
In a statement at that time, the Brewers also said they would remain in contact with the family. “(We) are looking to set up a meeting between him and his favorite players, when the time is appropriate.”
That time came Monday, with a promise kept, during the opening of a four-game series with the rival Chicago Cubs. Roberts was given the honor of making the ceremonial first pitch to open the game. It was a beautiful sunny day and a crowd of 43,000 people had packed Milwaukee’s American Family Field.
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Surrounded by family and other invited members of the Highland Park community who were impacted by the incident, Cooper was the featured attraction at home plate when Yelich sidled up beside the entourage and surprised him.
With help from his brother, Luke, who was hit by shrapnel on the day of the shooting, Cooper was pushed out to the 30-foot mark between the pitcher’s mound, and home plate, where Yelich crouched to catch the toss. Cooper threw a perfect strike on one bounce.
Yelich then jumped up, went out to meet the family and gave the ball to Cooper. His mother, Keeley, has served as the Zion Elementary School District 6 superintendent until taking a leave of absence. She was also severely injured in the parade shooting, but wanted to keep the focus solely on her son Monday.
“This is a difficult time of the year for the Roberts family, and all of those who were impacted by the Highland Park tragedy,” said Rick Schlesinger, Brewers president of baseball operations. “Having Cooper here today, alongside his family, represents a milestone in his long path to recovery, for the entire community.
“We are honored to have the Roberts family with us at American Family Field for Cooper’s first pitch and wish them all the best,” he said.
The ceremonies included the roaring flyover of a KC-135R Stratotanker from the Wisconsin Air National Guard 128th Air Refueling Wing, that shook the stadium following the national anthem. Cooper could be seen holding his ears.
“This is a wonderful day, and a nice thing to do for him,” said Jennifer Ashley, a fan attending the game. “Having some light come out of a bad thing is pure hope.”
