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GOLD HILL Gold Valley Little League parents, players repair vandalism in time to play Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2016 at 5:08 PM Updated May 4, 2016 at 5:27 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2016 at 5:08 PM Updated May 4, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Social News A Little League program in Gold Hill will be able to salvage its season after locals banded together to undo vehicular vandalism at a local baseball field. Vandals drove onto Mack Field at the Gold Hill Sports Park early Sunday morning and did "donuts" on the infield and outfield, leaving deep ruts and breaking newly installed sprinkler heads. Casey Hudlow, president of Gold Valley Little League, said parents and players spread the word via phone and social media about the damage, and on Sunday volunteers turned out to fill in the ruts and make the field playable. "We were able to use sand and fill dirt to fill in the holes so the kids don't break an ankle, so they can at least play," Hudlow said. "The district gave us the go-ahead to keep playing." The league has set up a gofundme account to raise money for lasting fixes. Hudlow said the holes will have to be dug back out, filled properly and reseeded. It's even possible the field will have to be replaced. The league is awaiting estimates for the work. "We'll see what's going to be most cost-effective and what will be the safest for our kids. If we can't get grass to grow back in these ruts, we're looking at potentially having to scrape the entire field ... in the off-season," she said. "If we have to replace the field, you're talking about anywhere between $30,000 and $70,000." "We thought it was going to be worse than it is now, but a bunch of people came out and helped us fill some of the holes," said 9-year-old David Christensen, whose father, Paul Christensen, is a coach. "The kids have all handled it really well, because I don't think most of them realize how bad it was at first," said the coach. "We will persevere, but we want to make sure it's not going to be unsafe for the kids to play on." Cole Pefifer, 9, said, "I would be really sad if I couldn't play. It made me really mad that someone would do that to our fields." Morgan Sallee, 8, who said he had played on the fields "since T-ball," was happy to be able to play Tuesday. "Maybe somebody did it because we beat the all-star team and they were mad at us," he said laughing. "But it was probably just somebody being stupid." Christensen said a vehicle with the same tread pattern that was found on the ball field reportedly damaged property at Youth for Christ Center in downtown Gold Hill and at Triple Tree restaurant. A similar vehicle attempted to gain access at Laurel Hills Golf Course. While watching kids warm up for a game Wednesday, Christensen said he was trying to follow the kids' example of focusing on the positive — being able to finish the season. "When I saw it had happened, we immediately came down here to look, and there were already 20 people up here — kids and parents side by side, with wheelbarrows and shovels — trying to clean up the mess and fill in the big holes they left. So in some ways, these kind of things do bring you together as a community." Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. To donate toward field repairs, see www.gofundme.com/22u3dzhd . Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2016 at 5:08 PM Updated May 4, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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