A Pennsylvania couple is suing the local youth league after their 12-year-old daughter broke her leg sliding into home plate during a softball game.

James and Kathy Hershberger of Springhill, Pennsylvania, are seeking in excess of $50,000 plus legal fees in a lawsuit that names Fayette County Youth League, North Union Township and R.W. Clark Youth Baseball League, which invited the girl to play in the game.  According to the family's attorney, Benjamin Goodwin, the girl broke her leg because the base path from third base to home plate was uneven with holes and ruts in it.

“If you're going to have a league, you have to make sure the field is safe,” he said. “Kids have no control over the field.”

The injury kept the girl out of school and extracurricular activities for a “substantial time,” resulted in permanent scarring and will limit her earning capacity, according to the lawsuit.

“There's a baseball, there's a bat, and there are people running as fast as they can toward you. It's a sport. Injuries happen,” Trevor Waligura, president of the youth league, said. “It's a shame that people go after lawsuits when we are all volunteers. Nobody makes a nickel off of this. All this does is destroy youth sports.”

—Source: triblive.com