A non-profit softball program in east Wake County is trying to figure out how it will get through upcoming tournaments without some vital equipment.

In softball stealing bases is legal, stealing equipment is not. But members of the East Wake Spirits softball organization are stepping up to the plate despite having a strike against them. Their 10 ft. trailer full of equipment was stolen Wednesday. Erica Adams, 13, said she was shocked when she heard the news.

"We worked so hard on fundraisers and all kinds of stuff and just to see it go right down the drain is just kind of heartbreaking," Adams said.

East Wake Spirits is a traveling softball club, with three different teams, meant to provide a little more challenge outside school and recreation leagues. Coach Phil Hocutt said the challenge now is replacing four years and almost $3,000 worth of donations.

"We can't replace it, I mean we can't replace it this year, it would take several years," Hocutt said.

Hocutt said everything from uniforms to catcher's equipment is gone. Coaches are doing the work of a stolen machine and pitchers have to throw batting practice. The girls have their own bats, but brand new balls were paid for out of the coach's pocket. Coach Phil, is asking the thieves to return what's missing.

"There's nothing in there that anybody could work with or use except for these kids," Hocutt said.

But parents like Sally Pollard said while they're mad, their children did gain a valuable lesson in what it means to be a team.

"They're all family and you know when something bad happens it happens to everybody, and so I think the girls, it makes them think about each other more," Pollard said.

Wendell Police are investigating. The team is in immediate need of balls, soft toss nets and catcher's gear. If you'd like to help, you can e-mail Coach Phil by clicking on this link, then by clicking on the contacts tab and 12U for his e-mail.