Old-Timers softball game to benefit Palmerton 6-year-old

Dalton Fredericks’ love for baseball will be on full display within the next month.

On Saturday, the Palmerton 6-year-old will be the guest of honor at the Russell “Bups” Ahner Memorial Old-Timers Softball Game in Franklin Township.

The game, pitting Franklin Township coaches against members of the Franklin and Lehighton fire departments, begins at 1 p.m. at Phifer Ice Dam Park. It raises funds for local youth dealing with medical issues.

“He’s very excited,” Megan Fredericks, Dalton’s mom, said. “Baseball is a sport he really loves and for them to hold a game benefiting him, it’s really special. When I told him about it, he said, ‘Wow, Mom, that’s really cool.’ ”

Diagnosed at 3 months old with two chromosome disorders, Dalton was considered “failure to thrive” for the first 4 years of his life, meaning he did not meet the recognized standards of growth.

He had a nasal gastric feeding tube in his nose for over 10 months at 1 year old. Dalton’s stomach issues, including acid reflux and a diagnosis of gastroparesis at age 3, led to numerous years of medicines and other interventions. In a less than two-year stint at Hershey, he was put under general anesthesia at least 10 times for varying procedures and surgeries.

This fall, he will begin first grade at Towamensing Elementary School, where he is in a full-time emotional support classroom.

A bake sale and Chinese auction will begin at noon Saturday. The Franklin Township Athletic Association also typically gives $1,000 to the child up front, plus the money brought in by a Chinese auction and bake sale also goes to the child. According to event organizers, the game normally brings in more than $2,000 each year.

“As a parent, I’m super honored Dalton was chosen,” Megan said. “To see the community rally around him, and any children with medical issues, it really makes you feel good. He is such a happy kid and so loved by so many people that I know this is going to be a really great day for him.”

Dalton was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum two years ago. He also suffers from sensory processing disorder, has had two sets of tubes already and his adenoids removed, and had a tongue-tie fixed at 1 week old. He sees multiple specialists for his chromosome abnormalities including a growth doctor, a speech and palate program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a developmental pediatrician among others.

Most recently, he had a bilateral hernia surgery in Hershey.

“This is definitely going to help with some outstanding medical bills that we can pay off,” Megan said of the proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser.

Dalton received a trip to Walt Disney World through the Blue Ridge Chapter of Dream Come True. On Saturday, per tradition, he will receive a ride to the game on a Franklin Township firetruck.

The fun will continue in September as he will throw out the first pitch at the Dream Come True charity baseball/softball game in Walnutport.

“He loves seeing people he knows, so I know he’s going to very excited on Saturday,” Megan said.