FLOWER MOUND, Texas – Cedar Hill High School’s baseball team has been overwhelmed by donations from businesses and even other students following a recent locker room break in.
School officials said thieves ransacked the baseball clubhouse and stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment over the New Year’s weekend. Damage included obscenities sprayed on the walls, puddles of paint poured on the floor and a smashed drink vending machine.
A team spokesman said both the Twins and Rangers organizations have since donated money to help cover the $25,000 in damaged and stolen items. Players have also received support from the students at Flower Mound High School.
After watching a story about the incident on FOX 4, Flower Mound senior Cassie Harwell said she shot an e-mail to her principal suggesting the school somehow raise money.
“I know no one at Cedar Hill. I don’t even know where Cedar Hill is,” she said. “Just seeing the pictures of Cedar Hill and everything, it just kinda made me a little bit angry. And I was thinking about all my equipment for swimming and how expensive that is and I was like, ‘There is no way every single person is going to buy back all their equipment.’”
As it turns out, the coaches in the two cities are good friends. So athletes at one school were able to donate what they could to help those at the other school.
“I’d be angry if somebody broke in and dumped paint all over our new carpet and all that stuff,” said Chris Boyd, a Flower Mound baseball player.
On Tuesday, other students will be asked to join in. The principal will allow anyone who makes a donation to wear pajama pants to school. The goal is to raise $1,500.
“And, it’s like maybe somebody has a lucky glove that they’re not gonna get back or something and I just want to be able to replace that,” Harwell said.
