A 7-year-old Brockton girl took the mound at a Brockton Rox baseball game to show off her hard work and determination recovering from treatment for a rare bone growth disorder.

Arielle Oscar, 7, of Brockton, overcame surgery and therapy to be able to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Brockton Rox baseball game at Campanelli Stadium on June 26.

Peterline Oscar, Arielle's mother, said she started to notice abnormal walking patterns and bone growth as Arielle started growing. Arielle was later diagnosed with Blount's disease.

Arielle had surgery on both lower extremities in August 2024 and started physical therapy in February, according to her uncle, Pierre Oscar.

Arielle said she was "so excited” to throw out the first pitch. She said she "just wanted to try to do it and find out how it would be to do it."

Peterline said she was looking forward to the ball game, and that it would be the first time her daughter would be in a baseball stadium.

Pierre said the opportunity meant a lot to him. "I’m very excited about it," he said. "It’s a new experience for her. I'm so excited for her," he said.

"This young patient has made incredible strides in regaining her mobility after undergoing complex bone realignment surgery to treat a rare bone growth disorder," according to a written statement from Bay State Physical Therapy.

“She is fun, bubbly, full of personality and has been simply a pleasure to treat," Sabrina Beauzile, PT, DPT, of Bay State Physical Therapy in Brockton, said in a written statement. “Watching her return to her prior level of function has been a truly rewarding experience, and we are thrilled to help make this special moment happen for her.”

Friends and family gathered to support Arielle Oscar at Campanelli Stadium as she threw out the first pitch. From left to right are: Marie Antoine, Peterline Oscar of Brockton, Arielle's mother, Trey Ciulla-Hall, 3B player for the Rox, David Smith VP of Operations at MCR Chiropractic, Veronica Lopes of Stoughton, twins Samantha and Sabrina Beauzile of North Attleboro, Dr, Francis Gilson of MCR Chiropractic, Brockton Rox manager Jerod Edmunson, and Brockton Rox staff Duston Branson, seen on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

Beaulize helped Arielle onto the baseball field to throw out the first pitch.

“It made me feel really, really happy. I felt as happy as she did," Beauzile said on June 27. "Her joy was my joy."

"Arielle is literally the most determined young girl I’ve ever met," Beaulize said. "She just kept pushing and persevered through her challenges until she reached the end,” she said.

Arielle and her friends watched the game from a suite, where she met the Brockton Rox mascot K.O.

Brockton Rox mascot K-O came up to visit Brockton's Arielle Oscar who threw out the first pitch later in the game on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Friend Sabrina Beauzile (R) of North Attleboro enjoyed K-O's company as well.

Peterline said her daughter "had a great time." When The Enterprise asked if Arielle wanted to attend another game, her mom replied, "Yes, please!"

According to Beaulize, Arielle got to keep the baseball she threw out. "The player who caught the ball autographed it and Arielle autographed him,” she said.

"Everyone had a blast,” Beaulize said.

What is Blount's disease?

According to Beauzile, Blount’s disease is a disorder of the growth plates in the bones around the knees, and it causes the legs of children affected by the disease to curve outward at the knees, commonly referred to as "bowleggedness."

How is Blount's disease treated?

The usual treatment plan generally depends on the severity and extent of the bone growth deformities, according to Beauzile.

"If Blount's disease is diagnosed at infancy and caught early, doctors usually have patients in braces to aid in guiding the legs into a straighter position as the child grows. An improvement is usually noticed within 12 months of treatment with bracing. Research says that if the bone growth deformity is not corrected by the age of 4, surgery may be needed," Beauzile said in a written statement.

According to Beauzile, surgery can involve an osteotomy and/or a hemiepiphysiodesis. "An osteotomy is a procedure that involves cutting and realigning the bone to put it in a more normal position. This type of surgery usually corrects the deformity immediately," Beauzile said.

"An hemiepiphysiodesis is a procedure that corrects the deformity over time where it involves placing plates or staples on one side of the growth plate to stop the growth on that side. The plate guides the growth of the bone into a straighter position while the nonplated side continues to grow."

Treatment post operatively includes rehabilitation to improve mobility as many are placed in special braces to help the newly aligned bones to maintain an optimal position, in addition to use of walkers, Beauzile said.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Meet unstoppable Brockton 7-year-old with rare disorder who threw out first pitch at Rox