WATERLOO, Wis. -- The Little League World Series wrapped up on Sunday, but for one local team, its moment of glory came last month -- that was the day Jared Nelson had the game of his life.

Nelson, who is from Waterloo, is partially blind and is battling a very rare blood disease.

"It's called Aplastic Anemia," said Nelson's mother, Lana Nelson. "In his case, his body is destroying his bone marrow and they don't know why."

"We have to be very careful," she said. "There are certain things he can't do."

"I can't really play my favorite sports," said Jared Nelson. "I like football and wrestling and I can't really play that stuff."

But Nelson can play baseball -- and he does it whole-heartedly. The amazing 12 year old plays catcher on his regional baseball team, the Heat. Last month, his team was playing at a tournament in Cooperstown Dream Park in New York when Nelson hit his first home run.

"It was just unbelievable," said Lana Nelson.

"I was watching it go over my head and I'm like, 'Oh yeah, go baby go,'" said Jeff Nelson.

Humble Jared called it "a good shot, I guess."

"It happened at Cooperstown, so that's the best part," he said.

Nelson will eventually have to have a bone marrow transplant from his brother who is a 100-percent match. But even then, doctors said the success rate is only around 80 percent.

"He's actually the one that tells me, 'mom, I'm going to be fine. Don't worry about it.' As I'm crying in the corner -- 'No, mom, I'm fine, I'm fine,'" said Lana Nelson.

It's Jared's attitude that keeps his parents going, while baseball keeps him going.

"We don't know what next year is going to bring," said Lana Nelson. "He might not be able to play."