Baseball, Softball Equipment Stolen From Local High School

Authorities are hoping to track down thieves who targeted Azusa High School over the long holiday weekend, making off with items from the baseball and softball teams, including pitching machines and a field maintenance vehicle.

"The thieves broke doors, taking school-owned (equipment) as well as personal equipment owned by the players,'' according to an Azusa city statement. "Baseball gloves, balls, bats, jerseys, pitching machines and an ATV used for field maintenance were among the items stolen."

"You feel violated," said Sandy Gahring, the school's athletic director. "My coaches are devastated."

The players are also upset, especially since some of them kept their personal equipment in the locker room, Gahring said.

Gofundme accounts have been set up by the baseball and softball teams, and $4,000 of a $10,000 goal had been pledged as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"All of Azusa High's baseball and softball equipment was stolen," according to the statement on the Gofundme page. "Thieves broke into the baseball dugout locker room and the softball storage container. Taken were two baseball and two softball pitching machines; every bat; uniforms, gloves, catchers equipment, batting tees, and (never-used) softballs and baseballs."

Gahring said the school hopes to either recover the equipment or collect enough money to buy new equipment by December, which is when the teams begin training for the start of their season.