Guns & Hoses softball game raises funds, awareness for Mariah’s Challenge
Just when it looked like the inaugural Guns & Hoses softball game was going be a police smackdown, Butte’s firefighters had something else to say.
The Hoses battled back from a 9-1 deficit after the first inning to beat the Guns 20-17 Saturday in front of a large crowd on Field 1 of a cool, windy Stodden Park.
The firefighters got back into the game with a six-run third inning, cutting the lead to 9-7. The cops responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame, and the firefighters tied the score at 14 with seven runs in the top of the fourth.
Hoses took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the sixth. They tacked on two more to make it a 20-16 game heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Gene Taylor blasted the game’s only home run in the bottom of the inning, but the cops could not muster enough in their last chance.
The firemen outhit the cops 27-26.
Cahl Clark went 4 for 4 to lead the way. Wayne Butori, Dan Boyle and Jared Gonzales each added three hits for the firefighters. Marco Weitzel, Levi Davenport and Jake Hanley each poked two. Jerry Ellison, Matt Doble, Tw Bolton, Aaron Facincani and John Libel ripped one.
Hanley and Clark hit triples for the Hoses. Weitzel, Butori and O’Neill doubled. O’Neill knocked in a game-high four runs. Lee Sullivan also contributed in the win.
Taylor, Josh Robinson, Chris Tierney, Dale Reynolds and Ben Girdler each poked three hits for the law enforcement side. Bryce Foley, Tim Berger Cameron Gardipee and Joe Karaus each hit two.
Slick-fielding Jessica LeProwse added a hit, along with Mike Reagan and Josh Stearns.
Stearns tripled, while Berger hit a pair of doubles. Foley hit one two-bagger. Gardipee and Berger each drove in three runs. Tyler Costello, Joe Lubick and Jennette Miller also played for the police.
Ellison won the home run derby. He beat Foley 1-0 in a tiebreaker after both hit three bombs in the final round. Ellison blasted five home runs in the first round. The wind was not friendly to the long-ball hitters.
The game was a fundraiser for Mariah’s Challenge, with police officer Jorey Thatcher taking on much of the organization. Each player raised money to compete in the game.
Shawn Wetzel entertained the crowd with his public address announcing/commentary throughout the contest. Mike “Skinny” Foley and Steve Bair volunteered to umpire.
Hoses 106 704 2 — 20 27 2
Guns 905 002 1 — 17 26 3
HOSES — Levi Davenport 2-4, Marco Weitzel 2-4, Jerry Ellison 3-4, Wayne Butori 3-4, Lee Sullivan 0-4, Jake Hanley 2-4, Cahl Clark 4-4, Matt Doble 1-4, Tw Bolton 1-3, Dan Booyle 3-3, Jared Gonzales 3-3, Aaron Facincani 1-3, John Liebel 1-3, Konnor O’Neill 3-2.
GUNS — Gene Taylor 3-4, Jessica LeProwse 1-4, Josh Robinson 3-3, Bryce Foley 2-4, Chris Tierney 3-3, Mike Regan 1-3, Josh Stearns 1-3, Tim Berger 2-3, Dale Reynolds 3-3, Ben Girdler 3-3, Cameron Gardipee 2-3, Tyler Costello 0-3, Blake Kraus 2-3, Joe Lubick 0-3, Jennette Miller 0-3.
HR — Taylor. 3B — Hanley, Clark; Stearns. 2B — Weitzel, Butori, O’Neill; Berger 2, Foley.
RBIS — O’Neill 4, Butori 2, Boyle 2, Doble, Clark, Davenpart, Weitzel, Ellison; Gardipee 3, Berger 3, Tierney 2, Reynolds 2, Taylor, Robinson, Regan, Stearns.
