Corona del Mar baseball field vandalized; three youngsters suspected

Corona del Mar’s baseball field, renovated last year, was vandalized recently. This is a picture of the field taken last spring.

A great deal of work went into renovating the baseball field at Corona del Mar High School last year but vandals damaged parts of the field and destroyed a scooter used for maintaining it about three weeks ago, the Sea Kings first-year baseball coach Kevin McCaffrey said Tuesday.

McCaffrey estimates there was about $1,500 in damage. The incident happened during the day and McCaffrey said three young people were believed to be involved, although there are no clear descriptions.

A police report was not filed, McCaffrey said, adding that anyone who may have information should email him at kmcaffrey@nmusd.org.us.
He said the school is investigating and is studying possibly enclosing the facility.

Students have been on summer break and don’t return until next week. McCaffrey is hoping that someone on campus might have information about who did the vandalism.

“It happened three or so weeks ago,” McCaffrey said. “We got a message from the person who does our fields starting the cart that we use, the kids had gotten it started and it was left out in left field and the battery was taken out. He was pretty upset. Obviously, the kids did donuts on the infield grass dirt and the outfield.

“They ran into a fence and slightly damaged it and then ruined the windscreen. Obviously, it’s pretty frustrating and then the next week, we got word that there was a photo of it. A community member had seen it and went and took photos of it. I finally got the photo a couple days ago and posted it (on Twitter) and we’re trying to catch these three kids because it’s just unacceptable with how much time and energy and money we spend on the field, for kids to go do that and damage our property and field.”

One of the doors to the tool sheds was also kicked in.
“That’s going to cost us money to fix, the fence is just going to be a small eye sore,” McCaffrey said. “We’re buying a new windscreen.”

The faces of the three boys were not clear on the photo but the person who took the picture said:

“They were all taking turns driving it (the cart) and obviously we didn’t get a picture of the guys faces,” McCaffrey.  “We’re trying to get it (the picture) out there to see if anyone knows who this kid (or kids) is. It’s kids being kids making a stupid decision. They need to be responsible for the damage they caused.”

McCaffrey said it’s not clear how the youngsters started the cart and that measures are being taken to secure the baseball field to prevent future incidents.

“They burnt out the clutch and just left it there,” McCaffrey said. “Unfortunately, on another sad note, our field guy (Walt Harper) passed away a week later. This was his baby (the man who owned the cart) his cart, it was a cart from Angel Stadium from the late 80’s and he won it an auction. That was tough, and then literally we lost him a week later. We just had a funeral last Saturday on the field.

“We’re going to try and do right by Walt and try and get this back so his son so he can have it and continue with his business.”

The cart is unusable now, McCaffrey said.

Ever since the news was posted on Twitter, the response has been tremendous, McCaffrey said.

“It’s been great to see the baseball community and the community in general re-posting the stuff and supporting us trying to get this guy (or others),” he said.