A little league baseball field in Stafford Township was vandalized last week by an unidentified driver who police say tore up the field by driving in circles.
It happened last Tuesday at a baseball field at the township's athletic complex. Police say the vandal likely drove a pickup truck onto the field. The vandalism heavily damaged the turf as well as the field's sprinkler system. Nearly all of the grass on the field will need to be replaced.
"The estimate is over $17,000 to repair this and that comes from parents and taxpayers," said Stafford Township Recreation Director Betti Anne McVey.
The little league, with players ranging from the ages of 8 to 10, began holding practices for the spring season a few weeks ago. Ever since the vandalism, the field has been off limits.
"We lose a whole field for practice," said John DeMarco, president of the Stafford Little League. "With 600 kids in the league it's tough for field space."
Investigators believe the culprit drove onto the field through an open gate which has since been locked. While police have no suspects, they were able to take a tire impression from the damaged baseball diamond which they are currently analyzing.
"Right now we're looking to try to work with different motor vehicle facilities in the area to see if we can come up with a match of what kind of vehicle this might be," said Stafford Township Police Officer Christopher Fritz.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Public works crews hope to have the field fixed by the league's first game on April 21. For now the batting cages are the only places where the kids will be able to practice.
"It's just unfortunate that people could be so selfish and not think ahead," said Officer Fritz. "Not think about the consequences of what they might be doing."
Police ask anyone with information to call 609-597-8581.
