Jul 10, 2008

Little League community rallies for Ravenswood

By John Reid / Daily News Staff Writer

I turned on my television set the other day and there was a Channel 3 news report about how thieves had broken into the Ravenswood Little League concession stand.

My heart sank.

My heart would sink to hear about any Little League concession stand getting broken into. To have it be Ravenswood LL, based in East Palo Alto, made it even tougher to fathom. I wasn't alone. Steve Sinchek, manager of the Palo Alto American 11-and-12-year-old All-Star team, immediately sent out an all-points bulletin e-mail.

"Our friends in Ravenswood Little League Baseball have taken a hit," began the e-mail. "A horrible story. These kids have enough (stuff) to deal with already. This league is on a shoestring to begin with and the kids/coaches compete with such passion."

"It's really sad," added Half Moon Bay Little League President Dave Silveria.

The thieves, who struck in the early morning hours before Ravenswood's first District 52 all-star tournament game, didn't just take candy and general food items. They absconded with a plethora of gloves, all-star uniforms, a pitching machine, a hot dog warmer, a nacho cheese warmer, a television and a microwave.

Ravenswood all-star players had to use their regular season pants for the all-star games. Fortunately, they had already been given their all-star jerseys.

"This is the first time they had broke into our equipment room," Ravenswood LL President Bruce C. Swain said. "They have broken in nine times in a little over a year, but this was the worst. They had to have a truck to take all that stuff away. The television was an old-fashioned, awkward one, donated to us by the Senior Center. I'm surprised the neighbors couldn't hear them with all the noise that had to have made."

Apparently, the culprits had broken through a skylight in the roof. That has since been soldered. On Tuesday, league VP Tommie Roberts, who has been with the league for the past 25 years, had security folks on the scene to install a security system and not a minute too soon.

While the league dealt with its unwarranted adversity, other entities came to the rescue. The Oakland A's quickly donated $8,500 to cover the losses. The A's invited the Ravenswood Little League players to attend Monday's game with the Seattle Mariners.

Half Moon Bay LL has given Ravenswood LL a used pitching machine.

"We had five of them," Silveria said. "We're fortunate. We're looking to do more."

According to District 52 Little League Administrator John Christensen, some other leagues are following suit. Pacifica American has sent a check for $250. Palo Alto Little League chipped in $500. Christensen said even District 44 Little League, located to the immediate south, has called.

"Redwood City National and Pacifica National said they were sending checks," Christensen said. "I know some others have, too. We're trying to raise $15,000 to get them a security system and get them on their feet."

No one is doing more than Sinchek, who happens to own Old Pro Restaurant in Palo Alto. On Friday, all net proceeds at the Old Pro are going to Ravenswood LL.

"I can't recall asking a crew for donations, but this sure warrants it," continued Sinchek's original e-mail on the matter.

Sinchek has been involved with Palo Alto Little League for several years. This crime cut to his inner core.

"This was a sad thing," Sinchek said. "This is a good opportunity to give Ravenswood Little League a leg up. They go through so much, getting kids to practices and to games."

Sinchek's "regulars" have already been tossing bucks into the Old Pro pot. By closing time Friday, Sinchek is hopeful the pot should swell upwards toward $20,000. Old Pro Restaurant is located at 541 Ramona St. in downtown Palo Alto.

"The more the merrier," Sinchek said. "This was bad, but the thing is to make a positive out of it. If everyone comes together on this, the better off all of us are. We can make a positive out of a negative."

My heart has risen again.



E-mail John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.