Youth baseball league robbed Youth baseball league robbed (March 18, 2005)

Season starts next month

By Allison Gerard

There could be some hungry baseball players and fans at McKelvey Park after vandals attacked the concession stand.

The stand was broken into and vandalized twice, once on Feb. 18 and again on Feb. 27. Cash, first-aid supplies, food, the cash register and baseball equipment was stolen, and the shelf doors where ripped off its hinges.

Cash and goods worth about $3,000 was lost from the Mountain View Babe Ruth League, said manager Pat Bernal. The Mountain View police do not have any leads in the case.

The McKelvey Park concession stand provided parents, fans and players with refreshments at the ballpark, and the recent vandalism has drastically affected their ability to meet these needs, she said.

One of the main things the league needs is a cash register, which is hard to replace because of its high cost, said Bernal. She stressed that anyone who is interested in donating a cash register or anything else to contact the league.

The Babe Ruth League opens on April 30 and plans to raise money and replace the stolen items by then.

The league pulled money together in order to open the concession stand March 12 for park patrons, which allowed some money to be raised.

"What we have is not enough to start in full swing, and we're hoping the community can help us out," Bernal said.

Bernal said the league hasn't had enough time to plan fund-raising events to earn the needed money. Anyone interested in donating to the Mountain View Babe Ruth League can call league president John Pillings at 867-4222.
@jwiener:E-mail Allison Gerard at agerard@mv-voice.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.