Vandals destroy Leominster Little League backstop

Communities in Leominster are outraged after vandals destroyed the backstop at one of the city’s Little League baseball fields.

“Thank you to whoever thought it would be a good idea to help us redecorate!” the league wrote in a Facebook post, which included photos of the shredded backstop with the padding ripped out. The damage will cost at least $3,000 to repair, according to the league.

Volunteer coach and league president Rob Lora discovered the damage Monday morning, according to CBS Boston. Until the backstop is fixed, teams can’t play at the field due to safety concerns.

“They did something very malicious to hurt the kids. They knew that. It was not throwing a cone, they took the action of ripping it apart, ripping it all out and they knew what they were doing,” Lora told CBS. “You’re not hurting us, you’re not hurting the park, you’re hurting the kids because they can’t use that facility. So, it’s heartbreaking.”

While the vandalized backstop is being repaired, the league has had to relocate and play on a borrowed field, according to CBS. Lora told CBS that it could take “a month to six weeks or more” until the field is safe to play on again.

Leominster police are investigating the vandalism but currently have no leads as to who did it or why, according to The Worcester Telegram.

Lora and Leominster police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.