Sports played an important role in Joseph Cooper Salsberry’s life but the athletic 12-year-old was especially fond of baseball and hockey.
An infielder with the Lake Orion Diamond Dawgs, Cooper also played goalie for the 99 Troy Sting and recorded a shutout in his final game, Friday.
Cooper, who lived in Oakland Township and was a sixth grader at Van Hoosen Middle School, died Saturday after he collapsed while running laps with his baseball team at about 11 a.m. that day at Friendship Park in Orion Township, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.
CPR was initially provided by the coaching staff, prior to the arrival of Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies who continued performing CPR on him, according to a report from the sheriff’s office. Cooper’s mother was at the scene.
After being transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, he was pronounced dead at 12:04 p.m. An autopsy was to be performed Sunday, but the results were unavailable, according to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office.
School district staff will be available today to counsel students, staff and parents who knew the Salsberry family, according to Michael Behrmann, the principal of Van Hoosen.
Because his hockey team, which is coached by his father, John Salsberry, was involved in the 2012 Spring Scramble Tournament at the Troy Sports Center, the players decided to play Sunday’s game in honor of Cooper’s memory, according to a family spokesman. Although no family members attended the game, members of his baseball team were there in a strong show of support, the family spokesman said. The team won the tournament.
Cooper was regarded as an excellent student who earned good grades and was taking several advanced classes, the family spokesman said.
He also enjoyed spending time with family and playing with the family dog, Baby.
Survivors include his father John, mother, Kerrie; two sisters, Bella and Lily and an older brother, Conner.
Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Modetz Funeral Home Silverbell Chapel 100 East Silverbell Rd., Orion Township. Funeral services are pending. Burial will be in Friends Cemetery in Pendleton, Ind.
(via downie-)
