PARK RIVER, ND – A Thompson baseball player is in the hospital recovering tonight after a scary moment in Sunday’s North Dakota Class B American Legion Baseball Tournament in Park River.
Dex Avdem is Thompson’s catcher.
In the sixth inning of the state semifinals, Avdem suffered a medical emergency, prompting medical intervention. He was taken to First Care Hospital in Park River. He was later transferred to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, where he will be observed overnight.
“I am INCREDIBLY THANKFUL to share that Dex is doing well and on the mend,” a post on the tournament’s Facebook page read late Sunday night. “His dad has reported that he is in great spirits and his teammates were able to come visit him.”
Park River Ambulance Service credited fans with preventing a worse situation from unfolding.
“Thanks to the prompt intervention of some remarkably selfless baseball fans trained in CPR and AED use, one young man will have a truly miraculous story to share,” they wrote in a Facebook post.
Avdem’s team won the game 2-1 over LaMoure, securing a spot in the state championship on Monday. They’ll take on the winner between Park River and LaMoure. If Thompson loses the first game, they’ll play a second winner-takes-all game.
