Angel in the outfield

NEWPORT BEACH — The last time Jamie Bosley and his son Carson attended the Newport Beach Little League opening day ceremony, the two sat deep in the outfield last year.

Father and son. Coach and ballplayer. Eager to start their third season together.

Jamie sat in the dugout Saturday morning. On his lap was Quinn, his 4-year-old daughter. Next to Jamie’s right was Kelly, his wife, and Carson’s grandparents.

In their eyes, Carson was still in the outfield, an angel in the outfield.

Men aren’t supposed to cry. There’s no crying in baseball. You can make an exception for Jamie and his father, Jim, at Bonita Canyon Sports Park.

Jamie lost his 7-year-old son last July 29 to a stroke. Jim lost a grandson to root for.

Dad and grandpa tried to fight back tears after leaving the dugout. The two men stood at home plate, bawling before Jamie took the ball and walked toward the mound.

The 41-year-old threw out the first pitch, firing it to one of Carson’s best friends, Stephen Deck.

“I’m glad I didn’t bounce it into home,” said Jamie, still a little choked up.

Carson’s spirit allowed Jamie to get through the start of an emotional Saturday. In front of hundreds of players, some of Carson’s former teammates and friends, Newport Beach Little League honored Carson on the same field he sat on last year next to his dad.

Dave Meckler, the league president, unveiled a plaque remembering Carson. Meckler said plans are underway to mount the 8-by-10-inch plaque at the Majors Division field at Lincoln Elementary School.

The plaque pays tribute to Carson, “Forever a Newport Beach Little League All-Star.”

“An emotional day for [the family] given that Jamie … coached in our Little League program from the time his son was 5,” Meckler said. “They finished the end of last season, and baseball was on their minds when [Carson] passed away.”

Jamie said his son loved Little League. Returning to the field brought back memories of Carson.

There are simple things some parents take for granted. Like the kid down the right-field line, where his father adjusted his belt, making sure his son looked sharp.

Jamie reminisced about his precious times spent with Carson on the diamond.

“We practiced on Friday afternoons,” Jamie said. “At the end of practice, we’d run the bases, play catch, the little fun things to do [in baseball].

“It was an honor to coach him. He’s a team player.”

Jamie said Carson always looked out for his teammates, those around him. Carson lived up to this to the very end before dying from an arteriovenous malformation, a tangle of blood vessels that bled into his brain and caused brain damage.

Jamie and Kelly decided to keep their son on life support so Carson could save others. Jamie said six of Carson’s organs were donated, giving others hope to live.

“It’s still a little bit [early] before [the families] reach out to us,” Jamie said. “We should know in the next couple of months.

“The organs went to a 3-year-old, all the way up to a 16-, or 17-year-old. The prognosis looks good for all six of them.”

The Bosleys miss Carson.

The kids running around in the outfield reminded Jamie of Carson, his passion for sports.

Deck is a constant reminder to Kelly of her son. Deck shares the same Dec. 22 birthday as Carson. The two boys met when they were 2 and played on the same baseball team coached by Jamie the past three years.

The last one, Jamie wore the team’s hat to opening day. He still had to ask his wife of the team’s name.

“We were the Yankees last year, right?” said Jamie, knowing Carson is now playing with the angels.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].