Hart-Ransom Baseball Club rallies after thieves strike

The Hart-Ransom Baseball Club is asking for help to replace the balls, gloves, bats, catcher’s gear and other equipment that thieves made off with during a break-in last month.

Club Vice President John Cates said the thieves stole about $18,000 of equipment, including a John Deere Gator, a small utility vehicle club members used to haul equipment to the fields west of Modesto. They also stole a barbecue used during games to feed spectators; a piece of equipment called a drag, which was hooked to the back of the Gator and used to groom the infields; and 23 of the club’s 30 duffel bags filled with bats, balls and other equipment.

The club has about 300 children, ages 5 to 15, who play T-ball, baseball and softball. The children play on fields at Hart-Ransom School. The stolen goods had been stored inside a metal container on the campus. The break-in occurred during winter break, when school was not in session.

The thieves also busted a window to enter the club’s snack shack. They ransacked the shack, but there was nothing in it for them to pilfer.

Authorities have not been able to identify any suspects, said deputy Anthony Bejaran, a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

Cates said insurance will cover about a quarter of the loss. The club is asking for donations of money and equipment to make up the difference. He said the season starts in spring and will go on as planned even if coaches and parents have to pitch in more.

“Come hell or high water, we are going to make these kids have a season,” he said.

This story was originally published January 25, 2015 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Hart-Ransom Baseball Club rallies after thieves strike."