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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Boardman police lined up as their names were called for the starting line-up for the Battle of the Badges baseball game on Sept. 12 at the Boardman Field of Dreams.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fire Chief Mark Pitzer spoke before the Battle of the Badges baseball game at the Boardman Field of Dreams started on Sept. 12.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the Boardman firemen threw a pitch for the Boardman police team during the Battle of Badges charity baseball game at the Field of Dreams on Sept. 12.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini threw the first pitch for the Battle of the Badges charity softball game at the Boardman Field of Dreams on Sept. 12.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The Boardman firemen lined up on the field as they were announced one-by-one before the start of the Battle of the Badges baseball game at the Field of Dreams on Sept. 12.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Two of the players from the Boardman police team high-fived each other after making it to first base during the Battle of Badges charity baseball game on Sept. 12 at the Field of Dreams.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Boardman police and fire departments got together for the third annual Battle of the Badges charity softball game on Sept. 12 at the Boardman Field of Dreams baseball field.
The softball game is a way to honor Sept. 11 and Patriot Day.
Each year, the game has also been a way to raise funds for a local family or work partner in need.
This year the Battle of the Badges game raised money for the John Fritz Family Fund and the chaplain Larry Johnson Fund. Fritz was a firefighter in Austintown who had recently passed away and Johnson is a police chaplain who was diagnosed with brain cancer and is currently undergoing radiation therapy. The money raised will go to the families and help fund medical and other necessary expenses. A donation station was set up next to the Buffalo Wild Wings table, who served free food for those attending.
The players were announced one at a time as they lined up on the field. Fire chief Mark Pitzer spoke to the audience before the game started. Pitzer talked about heroism and how the Boardman policemen and firemen should be seen as heroes.
“It did not occur to me until this year, 17 years into my career, did I feel like these people, our firefighters and our police officers, are heroes,” said Pitzer.
After Pitzer finished his speech, Boy Scout Troop #54 made their way to home plate to raise their flags as the Boardman Pep band played the National Anthem. As the Boy Scouts and band left the field, it was time for the game to begin.
The fire department was first to bat while the police department took the field.
After playing seven intense innings, the fire department beat the police department with a score of 4-2.