MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. – A New Jersey woman who was struck in the face with a baseball at a Little League game is suing the young catcher who threw it. Elizabeth Lloyd is seeking more than $150,000 in damages to cover medical costs stemming from the incident at a Manchester Little League game two years ago. She’s also seeking an undefined amount for pain and suffering. Lloyd was sitting at a picnic table near a fenced-in bullpen when she was hit with the ball. Catcher Matthew Migliaccio was 11 years old at the time and was warming up a pitcher. The lawsuit filed April 24 alleges Migliaccio’s errant throw was intentional and reckless, “assaulted and battered” Lloyd and caused “severe, painful and permanent” injuries. A second count alleges Migliaccio’s actions were negligent and careless through “engaging in inappropriate physical and/or sporting activity” near Lloyd. She continues to suffer pain and anguish, incur medical expenses and has been unable to carry out her usual duties and activities, the lawsuit says. Matthew’s father, Bob Migliaccio, said they were concerned for Lloyd when it happened. Then his son started receiving threatening and nasty letters, he said, and he started getting angry. “The whole thing has almost been surreal,” Migliaccio said. “We keep thinking it’s just going to go away, and then a week and a half ago a sheriff shows up at my door to serve my son the papers.”  Migliaccio said as angry as he is about the lawsuit, he’s almost more angry with Little League. He said they’ve volunteered hundreds of hours over the years, and he believes Little League should assist in defending their son.


I don’t get it. How did she get hit in the face with a ball if the bullpen was fenced in? That doesn’t make any sense at all. I mean are you telling me this kid zipped it through a little hole and it kept enough speed to hit this lady and break her face? That sounds impossible doesn’t it? But on the flip side why would you ever sit behind the pitcher if there was no fence? I mean obviously an 11 year old is going to overthrow his pitcher at least 25% of the time. I’m telling you right now something is not right here. I don’t know what it is. I can’t put my finger on it, but it just stinks to high heavens. Like why won’t the Little League defend this kid?  I’m telling you I got a feeling this kid did do this on purpose. I can feel it in my plums.