Thief Snatches Lawn Mower From Skiatook Baseball Club

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

SKIATOOK, OK -- Some Skiatook baseball club members are learning about things other than balls, strikes and home runs. They're learning some tough life lessons about working hard for something, only to have a thief take it away. 

The kids are six to 12-years-old and they've held fundraiser's to play ball and their parents have built, painted and mowed at the fields to keep them in shape. But, a crook didn't think about any of that when he or she took off with their $4,000 mower.

The kids and dozens more like them, enjoy playing at the three field ballpark in Skiatook, thanks to much hard work, fundraising and many, many volunteer hours. 

Much of their equipment is donated, some of it is used, but the club was able to scrape together enough money to buy a Swisher Z-Max 60 mower, to make mowing the fields faster work. Someone stole it from the fields overnight Friday.

How are they going to get it back? That's the question the children's parents have which is why they called The News On 6. They hope someone will spot the mower and not like the idea of someone stealing from children and turn it in. 

Otherwise, it's a financial blow that sets them back.

"It is very discouraging because we're totally self funded, we had plans to build restrooms this year and it took several years to raise the funds, now we have to buy equipment we already had, so the restrooms are on hold," said the team's coach.

They say they're trying to do something good for the children and make a nice place for families and it's spoiled by a thief with no regard to the fact the theft is larger than just a mower.

"It's kinda important to us to come out here and have fun," said Kyle, a baseball player.

If anyone knows where the mower is or who took it, they can call 740-8071. There is a $500 reward.