Boston Herald Atricle

N.H. tyke, 6, meets his Red Sox heroes in chance encounter
By Katy Jordan

DREAM COME TRUE: Jacob, 6 meets his favorite Red Sox player, David Ortiz, before last night’s playoff game at Fenway Park.

While most members of Red Sox [team stats] nation reveled in their hopes for a first-round playoff sweep last night, 6-year-old Jacob's wildest dream had already come true - well before the first pitch crossed the plate.
The pint-sized Sox fan’s fantasy was realized late yesterday afternoon as he was waiting to catch a glimpse of the players arriving at Fenway Park [map]. Suddenly he heard someone say, “Hey little man, Papi would like to meet you.”
Within minutes, the precocious little lad who rattles off team stats like a pro and, despite braces on his arms and legs, loves to play baseball himself, was swooped up by his hero, fan favorite David Ortiz [stats].
“I wish I brought my broom,” said the local boy who suffers from spina bifida, a neurological disorder that restricts his movement, but not his spirit.
“I’m the biggest fan in the world.”
One by one, a who’s who on the Sox roster came out to say hello to the spirited champ, who has the Green Monster painted on his bedroom wall and follows every detail of the team on his home computer.
Dice-K, J.D. Drew [stats], Julio Lugo [stats] and Dustin Pedroia [stats] all came running out to meet him. Jacob was overwhelmed by his good fortune.
“The Red Sox are my heroes. All of them, they really are,” Jacob said.
He joked with Pedroia, “I’d like a sit-down with Terry Francona.”
So Terry emerged to greet the little guy, too.
“I told him to put Jason Varitek [stats] and Julio Lugo in today,” he said.
Keith said his son is an ardent Sox fan, rooting for the team since he was only 2 years old.
“He reads them online,” his father sighed, “and he knows their batting averages.”
The father-son duo were among thousands of fans swarming Yawkey Way, anxiously awaiting another win for their team.
“We’re going to win it all,” Jacob exclaimed, clearly beaming.