Rockies closer Axford’s young son, recovering from snake bites, tosses ceremonial 1st pitch

DENVER – Rockies closer John Axford’s 2-year-old son, who is recovering from rattlesnake bites to his right foot, threw out the ceremonial first pitch from his wheelchair on Friday night with his older brother and dad on the receiving end in front of home plate.

Jameson Axford was wheeled to the mound at Coors Field by his mother, Nicole. A snake bit him twice two months ago in the yard of the house the family rented in Scottsdale, Ariz., for spring training. He’s gone through several procedures to fix the foot and faces continued treatments.

Smiling and giving a high-five to Rockies mascot, Dinger, Jameson got a warm reception from the crowd before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw a ball that his 3-year-old brother, J.B., dove to get.

“It is real incredible how well a 2-year-old can handle this and deal with it,” said John Axford, who grew up in Port Dover, Ont. “I don’t think I’d be able to do it.”