ADAMS TWP — The Mars Fastpitch Association is dealing with an unknown opponent this season.

The softball organization — consisting of three teams, nine coaches and 45 girls — is trying to overcome the theft of its pitching machine last fall.

“We had it stored in the field box at Adams Community Park ... someone just took it,” association president Jacque Marsh said. “The police have no leads.

“That machine cost $1,300 and it's invaluable to us. A dolly and two buckets of balls were also taken. That's another $200.”

Because the Mars Fastpitch Association isn't a particularly large organization, its funds are limited. The group is selling pizza cards as a fundraiser in efforts to raise enough money to buy a new pitching machine.

Mars has age 10-under, 12-under and 15-under competing in the Greater Pittsburgh Girls Softball League, a league with 35 to 50 teams at each age level.

“The competition is stiff and we want to be fair to our girls,” Marsh said. “We're hoping to have a new machine up and running by the beginning of June, so we can at least prepare our teams for the playoffs.”

Association vice president Bob Weaver hopes to get a new pitching machine even sooner.

The younger girls begin playing April 7.

“I'm lobbying that we buy a pitching machine out of our current funds and replace that money later with what we pick up from fundraising,” Weaver said. “We have new registrations every year and we're never sure what we're getting.

“To adequately prepare the girls for the season, a pitching machine is vital to us. But I admit, it's tough for an association our size to recoup this kind of money.”

Weaver said quality pitchers in the Greater Pittsburgh league can hit speeds up to 70 miles per hour and “there's no way we can physically simulate an underhand pitching speed at even 50 miles per hour consistently.”

Marsh pointed out that the machine comes in handy for outfielders to practice catching fly balls as well.

“The big thing is for the batters, though,” she said. “The only way to get consistent, effective batting practice is with a pitching machine.”

Weaver agreed.

“It's the only way to get 30 to 40 pitches per batter in practice,” he said. “We coaches or our own pitchers couldn't possibly throw that many.”

Anyone with any information about the stolen pitching machine or with ideas about fundraisers are encouraged to visit marsfastpitch.com.