WEST BOYLSTON, Mass. – A 20-year-old soldier from Massachusetts known for his love of baseball and military life was killed by a roadside bomb during his second tour in Iraq, his father said Thursday.

Army Spc. Kyle A. Little of West Boylston died Tuesday north of Baghdad, according to his father, Michael Little of North Berwick, Maine.

Little’s wife, Tiffany, is expecting a child in November.

“That’s a blessing, that there’s some part of Kyle that’s still here,” said his father, who received a call from Maine Gov. John Baldacci to express his condolences.

Kyle Little was a baseball fanatic who pitched on youth and school teams growing up and sported a Boston Red Sox tattoo on his arm.

Little dropped out of high school, feeling it wasn’t the place for him, and joined the Army at age 17, a few months before he would have graduated, his mother, Shelly Smith, told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester.

Little seemed to mature in the service, which he intended to make a career, his father said. He was working as a bodyguard during his second tour in Iraq, Michael Little said.

“He was there because he wanted to be there, and he did what he liked to do,” he said.

Kyle Little was the oldest of five brothers and sisters.

Baldacci said Little’s family “is in all of our hearts and prayers” and ordered flags flown at half-staff on the day of Little’s funeral.

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation also said they were saddened by Little’s death.

“Our hearts go out to Specialist Little’s father, his entire family and all who knew and loved this young soldier,” said 1st District Rep. Tom Allen.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” said 2nd District Rep. Michael Michaud.