Firefighters take first at Guns & Hoses event
Photos by CHANSE WATSON Members of the firefighter and police teams gather around Dylan Browning while he holds the Guns Vs. Hoses game trophy on Sunday. Browning is flanked by SCFD1 Fire Chief Aaron Cagle and Sheriff Mike Gunderson.
Sheriff Mike Gunderson swings for the fences.
SCFD1 Fire Chief Aaron Cagle sends out a pitch while fire fighter Victor Malsom keeps his eye on the batter.
IDL firefighter Ryan “Jeeter” Klette dives for a hit into center field.
Eye on the Ball! SCSO deputy Tonia Brown takes aim and gets ready to swing.
KPD Officer Jake Johnson up at bat for law enforcement.
IDL firefighter Tyler Groth makes an easy catch after a pop fly.
KELLOGG — Looks like this event was all about comebacks.
The local firefighters from the houses around Shoshone County came out on top in Sunday afternoon’s Guns Vs. Hoses softball event when they defeated both police and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) teams.
The firefighters were down several runs to both of the aforementioned teams as they got into the final innings, but both times, they managed to pull out the wins.
These victories were the result of hard work, determination, and maybe a bit of bribery…
That’s right, you read that correctly, bribery was rampant in every game that was played!
Even with the high number of law enforcement officials present though, no one was arrested because all of the money went to a good cause.
Spectators and players alike broke open their wallets each game in an attempt to influence the outcome and support 20-year-old Dylan Browning, who was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt Lymphoma.
Browning is both a volunteer firefighter and an employee at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office jail.
For a small donation throughout the games, certain restrictions could be placed on one team to aid another.
Everything from forcing players to run backward to first base and making them take off their sunglasses to removing players off of the field and forcing batters to swing-away with a Little League tee-ball bat.
For an equally sized donation, the affected team could nullify the restriction.
This meant that in addition to the war on the diamond, a bidding war would frequently take place on the side lines- bring the spectators into the game.
In addition to the “bribes,” T-shirts and food items were also sold to raise money for Browning’s fight with cancer.
The event raised an impressive $1,807.65 and was fun for all involved.
Each team in the small tournament played each other once.
IDL was able to come out of the event 1-1, stealing a game away from law enforcement, but falling to the local firefighters in extra innings.
Many were surprised and impressed with IDL when they showed up to the event wearing fire firefighting attire.
Little did everyone know that they had just come from a fire.
Even though law enforcement went 0-2, they had an impressive turnout and had players from almost every agency in the Silver Valley.
John Miller, Shoshone County Fire District No. 1 firefighter and event organizer, was pleased with the event and was happy that they could do this for a good cause.
“This was such a great event,” Miller said. “I’m happy that we could get everyone together like this for Dylan.”
Browning, who attended the game, was honored that they were holding the event for him and was excited to play in next year’s game.
The cherry on top of all of this is that Browning was happy to tell people at the event that his most recent test has come back negative.
If everything goes smoothly, he will only have to finish out his last remaining chemotherapy treatments and then he will be in the clear.
Browning, just like his fellow firefighters, is showing everyone that you may be down for a bit- but you can always make a comeback.
For more information on Dylan Browning’s fight with cancer, see our first story on the Guns Vs. Hoses game at shoshonenewspress.com.