Club News: Fundraiser Started for Louisville Sluggers Team That Had All Equipment Stolen in Colorado

This should be an exciting time for travel ball teams who are playing across the country in big events like the ones going on in Colorado this week (Boulder IDT and Sparkler).

However, an awful situation hit the Louisville Lady Sluggers Wathen 07 on Wednesday when the 16U team and coaches discovered ALL their playing equipment was gone as their trailer with everything from bats to gloves to cleats was missing, apparently stolen overnight as they’re in the middle of playing in the Colorado 4th of July tournament.

Here is the situation as described by the GoFundMe organizer, Matt Ogden:

Hello, upon waking up this morning to head to our first tournament game in Denver, Colorado our team trailer had been stolen. This is truly heart breaking for our girls. All ball bags, bats, helmets, gloves, cleats, and all team equipment gone without a trace. The team trailer was located at a stay to play hotel, Double Tree located on 3203 Quebec St, Denver, CO 80207.

This again has really hit all of us very hard. We can certainly be angry with the perp that stole the trailer but that won’t do anything for our girls and get back their equipment. Keep in mind each ball bag contained everything these girls have to use for a sport they so truly love. This event is not going to break them but it has certainly slowed them down. Right now we need your help. Any donation will help. All monies raised will go to replenish what was taken from them.

We are currently waiting for stores to open to get them equipment to at least get on the field and play today. Again, this event will not break these girls, they want to play and we will do whatever is in our power to make that happen and your help will certainly make that happen.

Thank you,

Sluggers 07

As of Friday morning, 210 people had donated the sum of $13,902 towards the goal of $30,000.

Extra Inning Softball spoke this morning (Friday) to Odgen, whose daughter Layla Odgen plays on the team as a corner infielder and pitcher. He shared more details on the theft which was actually captured on the hotel video.

“What blew our minds, Matt began, “is that the. truck and trailer were parked under the camera and we have video from 1 a.m to 2 a.m of two individuals, a male and female, who broke the lock and stole the trailer.”

While the police are investigating the theft, the team still had to go to the fields and play their games, albeit without their personal equipment. So how were they able to get their games in?

“As the day progressed,” Matt continued, “we saw a network of people supporting us which made us feel much better emotionally. Sluggers head Jim Huecker went around to various teams who helped supply equipment as they could and Wilson was super supportive in helping us get gloves at great prices.

“At the end of the day, we’ll all alive and doing ok, but it’s a kick in the gut and you can only image for the kids how tough this is being the first time they’re facing something like this and it’s had an impact. We didn’t play as well as we’d have liked on Thursday, competing with borrowed gear and gloves that weren’t broken in.

“But, as we told the kids, you have to move on and how you respond to this will determine who you are in life.”

Click HERE to access the GoFundMe page where donations can be made.

Also, Louisville, Kentucky TV station WDRB did a feature on the story which can be watched by clicking HERE.

 — Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball