Thief steals $14,000 in equipment from softball team

Girls in a bay area softball league were thrown a curve ball when a thief stole thousands of dollars worth in softball equipment from a Union City girl's softball team.

Last week thieves broke into a shed at Contempo Park in Union City and swiped $14,000 worth of equipment including bats, balls and bases.

All but two of the 16 equipment bags inside a shed were taken and the handle to the shed was broken.

"They don't realize what they're doing to the city and these little girls who expect to play softball in the coming weeks," said softball coach Jimmy Perez.

While players in the Union City Girls Softball Association bring their own gloves, the league supplies equipment for teams.

Girls such as nine-year-old twins Ciera and Trinity are part of the Union City Girls Softball Association, an sports club for girls 4 through 14-years-old.

"It was most upsetting they busted the door open and took all of our equipment," Ciera said. "Now we can't play. We don't have much equipment this year."

Softball coach Andrea Hernandez said the theft it may push back practice start date and possibly the start of season.

Used bats were just some of equipment already donated from softball teams in Newark and Alameda, along with several hundred dollars pledged from as far as Chicago and Virginia.

The league has received donations, but said it still need catchers gear and helmets and hopes to have everything in time for opening day in March.