In their storage room, there not much left — the Lake Wales Little League has had to throw away 80 percent of its equipment.

  • Lake Wales Little League picking up pieces after Hurricane Irma
  • League has been a pillar of the community for 60 years
  • City to help with repairs, but League worries they won't be done in time

"We would pick things up and the inside of the batting helmets were covered in mold," said Stephanie Witt, the Little League's secretary.

The Little League needs to find money to buy new equipment for hundreds of kids, after most of it was destroyed by Hurricane Irma and its aftermath.

A missing backstop, a leaky roof and scoreboard on the ground in pieces — issues the League is dealing with two months after the storm.

"I'm kind of sad, but I know they'll fix it, and it will be all right," player David Flores said.

Lake Wales Little League President Jim Maggard said all of the damage won't delay them from starting practice in January.

"We're not going to let the kids be affected," Maggard said. "We're not going up on our rates. We're going to do this ourselves, and the town is going to come together, and we're going to do it," he said.

The League has been a staple in Lake Wales for more than 60 years. More than 650 kids participate. That's why the League secretary was so heavy-hearted when she first saw the destruction.

"I wanted to cry," Witt said. "It was very sad. I played ball here. My brother played here. My husband plays here. My son plays here. This has been a part of our life for a very long time."

The city has agreed to pay for repairs to the building and other structures like the scoreboards and batting cages. But, the league fears the work won't get done in time for practice. It has started an online fundraising page with hopes that might speed up the rebuilding process. To donate, go to their GoFundMe page.


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