13-year-old Nationals fan who met Harper, threw out first pitch dies of cancer

WASHINGTON – A Virginia 13-year-old who threw out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game earlier this season died Tuesday after a battle with brain cancer.

His death comes less than a month after he spent quality time with his favorite baseball player, Bryce Harper.

Gavin Rupp, a Nats fan from Ashburn with a passion for baseball, was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011. After battling the disease, he found out last month his tumor was inoperable, The Washington Post reports.

Rupp threw out the first pitch at the July 5 Nationals game and got to meet Harper after the organization learned of his diagnosis. In fact, Rupp got to do more than meet the outfielder

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