VALDOSTA — Valdosta High freshman baseball player Colton Shaw passed away Thursday afternoon following a freak accident Wednesday night.

Shaw, who was struck in the head by an errant throw in between innings of the Wildcats’ junior varsity game in Moultrie, was life-flighted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and remained in critical condition through Thursday morning. Shaw was taken off life support around lunchtime Thursday and passed away shortly after.

Valdosta High athletic director Rance Gillespie said the entire Wildcat community, but especially the Shaw family and the VHS baseball program, we’re grieving.

“It’s a terrible tragedy,” Gillespie said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Shaw family.

“We really appreciate the thoughts and prayers from the entire community.”

Valdosta High School is offering grief counseling for students today, and the VHS chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes held a prayer vigil for Shaw on campus this morning, according to Jennifer Steedley with Valdosta City Schools

Superintendent Martin Roesch, Vice Principal Gary Glover and head baseball coach Bart Shuman are travelling to Tallahassee to visit with Shaw and his family, according to Steedley.

“Our thoughts and our prayer with Colton and his family and the entire Valdosta City Schools family because this has affected all of his. It’s truly devastating,” said Steedley.

There will be an FCA sponsored candle light vigil for Colton Shaw tonight at the Valdosta Middle School track at 9 p.m.

All VHS extracurricular activities for Thursday have been postponed, as has Valdosta’s varsity baseball game Friday at Lee County.