Miracle Kid to throw first pitch at RailRiders home opener

SCRANTON, Pa. -- Miracle Kid Ryan Cappel wouldn’t let injuries stop him. The Schuylkill County teenager defied the odds and is not only back on the diamond for his high school baseball team, but will be on the mound to start the 2018 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders season.

Ryan, of Orwigsburg, will be one of four 2018 Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger Miracle Kids featured at the RailRiders home opener Friday, April 6.

Ryan will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch which, after being involved in a serious automobile crash, is something doctors didn’t think he would be able to do. He suffered a severe spleen injury and a laceration to his leg in the crash, leading to major complications and the loss of a muscle in his leg. Doctors didn’t think Ryan would play sports again.

Through hard work and determination, Ryan returned to play high school football and is taking to the mound for his high school baseball team this spring.

Ryan’s amazing story is just one of many 2018 Miracle Kids stories. Other Miracle Kids who will attend the opening day event with their families are:

• Drew Chesney, 17, of Lewistown, who is in his second year of remission of AML leukemia.
• Emma Straub, 6, of Selinsgrove, who overcame congenital defects at birth with her heart, esophagus and hip. 
• Ella Bianchi, 9, of New Milford, who was seriously injured and nearly drowned in a watercraft accident in 2016.
  
  

Friday night’s festivities are just part of the 2018 Children’s Miracle Network events this year, all leading up to Miracle Weekend 2018 in June.

Ryan's first pitch will be thrown at 6:45 p.m. The RailRiders will take on the Syracuse Chiefs beginning at 7:05 p.m.

Earlier this year, Geisinger announced their partnership with the RailRiders, becoming the official health care provider for the team.