Fountain 11-year-old hospitalized after getting hit in the face by a baseball

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) -- An 11-year-old boy from Fountain is in the hospital after getting hit in the face Monday night by a baseball during practice. He suffered facial fractures to both of his orbital sockets.

Monday night, a baseball hit 11-year-old Donnie Koval in the face during practice, causing facial fractures to both of his orbital sockets.

After getting hit by a line drive, Donnie Koval was taken immediately to the Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs for emergency care. He is now in the hospital undergoing surgery for facial reconstruction.

"It was very scary, very scary," said Donnie's father Branden. "You never expect it to happen to you or your kid. Just doing something he loves and he got extremely hurt."

Branden said the accident happened at a practice field in Colorado Springs when Donnie was pitching. He explained that his son threw the ball, but didn't get behind a protective screen in time before that ball hit him directly in the face.

The impact was so bad the ball's seams left bruise patterns on Donnie's forehead, breaking a bone in his forehead in addition to causing multiple fractures in his eye sockets.

Wednesday morning, Donnie underwent surgery to deal with the broken bone. Branden said doctors put in titanium plates and screws to help that bone heal.

Branden said Donnie is only speaking about one word at a time, but he hopes that with the surgery done, he'll be able to heal and talk more soon.

Following the accident, Branden said he has been overwhelmed by the support their family has received from the baseball team and other teams throughout Colorado Springs.

If you'd like to pitch in to help with all of the expenses the Koval family is facing, you can donate through this verified fundraiser.