Coach Art Maltby, Nichelle Robinson, Rodolfo Ray, Justin Daricek, Jorge Bedolla (captain), Jesus Flores, David Martin, Julian Carrillo, and Barbara Robinson. Photo courtesy of Los Amigos High School.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. ― Some heavy hitters stepped to the plate to restore the hopes of the Los Amigos High School baseball program after burglars raided the team’s storage container of all athletic gear over the Labor Day weekend.
With the community rallying in response to a desperate appeal for aid, the Lobo players can play this upcoming season, thanks to donations of cash and equipment totaling more than $15,000 from some generous benefactors.
Two large contributors represent professional baseball, with the Angels Baseball Foundation partnering with Santa Ana-based Diamond Sports in providing $3,000 in new gloves, balls, and protective gear. Earlier this week, the school accepted a $4,000 check from Major League Baseball personally delivered by Barbara Robinson, wife of baseball legend and Hall of Fame inductee Frank Robinson, and their daughter, Nichelle. Frank Robinson, who serves as Major League Baseball’s executive vice-president of baseball development, called the school with the promise of cash assistance after hearing news accounts of the team’s plight.
No less important are the fundraisers and pledges from other charitable individuals and businesses including Lamppost Pizza in Fountain Valley, Beach Pit BBQ in Costa Mesa, Mangiamo Gelato Caffe, First Class Pizza, Claim Jumper in Fountain Valley, Dippin’ Dots in Fountain Valley, and Luberski Properties in Fullerton. Other donors provided checks ranging from $50 up to a cash gift of $3,000 from a contributor who requested anonymity.
“The entire school was disheartened when we discovered the theft of equipment belonging to our varsity and JV teams,” said Robin Patterson, principal. “Now, however, we are well on the way to replenishing what was lost, and our teams and coaches can focus on the upcoming fall baseball competition. We are enormously grateful to the generosity of the many donors, large and small, who came to the rescue of our program.”
The school issued the call for donations last week after thieves ransacked a locked walk-in storage container near the baseball field. Individual lockers with all player and school-owned equipment in the container were emptied of their contents.
The investigation by
For additional information, call the school at (714) 663-6288.
