Fire Department Takes Win at Annual Guns and Hoses Game
By Leslie Rott

After losing the Guns and Hoses game, police pose happily with the winners from the fire department.

The Mackinac Island Fire Department posted one more win against the Police Department during the 5th Annual Guns and Hoses benefit baseball game played Sunday, August 13, at Great Turtle Park. The final score, 9-5.

After fielding a small team last year, the Fire Department brought in some additional players last week.

Lisa and Andy Dziobak pitched for the Police Department and Jason St. Onge pitched for the Fire Department.

As the game unfolded, a long hit to center field by Larry Rickley could have put the firemen ahead of the police right off the bat, but it was caught by Paul Kleeman. Craig Bunker came up next and hit a home run, putting the firemen on the board. The police came back and scored two runs against the firemen, putting them ahead, but not for long.

An impressive hit by Seth Strong in the second inning, tied the game and the police scored another two runs in the second inning, gaining a scoring edge, 4-2.

Both teams started off strong, but as play continued, fatigue set in, and in a volley back and forth between outs, not much was to be said for innings three and four, which passed quickly.

Mackinac Island Public Safety Service Officers (from left) James Hagenbaugh, Katie Chesebro, Andrea Dinley, and Jeremy Hingston relax before the start of this year's Guns and Hoses benefit softball game. The other public service officer, not pictured, is John Hills.

The firemen scored seven runs in the fifth inning, with an impressive home run by Mr. Rickley, ratcheting the score to 9-4 and turning up the heat on the police. Knowing that the game was quickly coming to an end, the police had to battle back. But the fifth inning did not prove to be the opportunity for that, as no one on the team made it past second base.

The police gave the firemen a taste of their own medicine in the sixth, when none of the firemen made it past first base. Still, the police had a five-point gap to narrow, and without a good performance in the sixth inning, it was clear that the firemen would capture the title of the "best team" for the fourth year in a row.

A final score by the police in the seventh was their last gasp, and the firemen posted their 9-5 victory.

Some rough and tumble, even questionable, play by the firemen ruffled some feathers during the game, but no serious injuries were reported as a result of the competition. The police, losing 14-13 last year, had hoped for a better showing this year.

The game was played to benefit the Mark Gallagher Scholarship Fund. The Mackinac Island Police Department was sponsored by Magic Fashion, which donated team shirts, so the Police Department players made a donation to the Mark Gallgher Scholarship Fund.

Concessions boosted the revenue, as did a 50/50 raffle and a 9-iron chipping contest. Mike and Deb Carley were the winners of the 50/50 raffle and offered to donate a portion of their winnings to the Mark Gallagher Scholarship Fund. Roxanne Pettit was the winner of a hayride.

The event raised $1,400 for the Mark Gallagher Scholarship Fund, which is endowed with the Mackinac Island Community Foundation.

Donors to the fundraiser included Partrick Sinclair's Irish Pub, Grand Hotel, The Pub and Oyster Bar, Seabiscuit and Grog Cafe, Great Turtle Toys, Mackinac Lapidary, Windermere Point Dog House, Doud Mercantile, Mackinac Island Police Department, Mackinac Island Fire Department, Mackinac Island Bike Shop, and Dance Hall DJ's. Mike and Deb Carley and Dennis Bradley cooked food to sell at concessions and Brian's BBQ also contributed food for the event.