Parkersburg South softball team’s tarp vandalized
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PARKERSBURG -- An expensive tarp used by the Parkersburg South High School softball team to protect Godbey Field during wet conditions was ruined by vandals over the weekend, Coach Tim Burch said.
"They cut through the chainlink fence," a frustrated Burch said Saturday evening. "They cut hole after hole, slice after slice. We had to throw it away."
The 110-by-110-foot tarp was placed on the field after Thursday night's season opener in anticipation of rain on Friday, Burch said.
The team had games against Buckhannon-Upshur and Grafton slated for Saturday, but they were called off because of cold temperatures. Burch and his players headed over to the field Saturday afternoon to remove the tarp so it wouldn't damage the grass.
"The whole team showed up to take the tarp off the field, and we all found it," he said.
Burch said the tarp was bought for $4,000 and the price has since gone up to $4,500 or $5,000.
"We raise the money for everything we do," he said.
The team's next home game is Thursday, and there is no other tarp, Burch said.
"It's hard to get a field ready (in wet conditions), especially when you're playing in the 50s," he said. "The tarp saves me hours of work."
As of Sunday, Parkersburg Police said they have no information to share at this time, as it is an ongoing investigation.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.