Twin Lakes guns meet hoses on the diamond

Both teams gather for a group shot. /Andrew Strother photo

Twin Lakes firefighters and police officers usually are on the same side of a situation. But Saturday they opposed each other on the softball diamond all in the name of some interdepartmental spirit building and fun.

This was the second year for the event, dubbed the Guns and Hoses. The game took place Saturday afternoon at Westside Park.

A series of errors in the bottom of the first inning cost the firefighters and gave the police department a seven run lead early in the game. Glenn Tietz Jr. rallied the firefighters in the second with a hard hit down the third base line; by the top of the sixth, the firefighters had taken a 18-16 lead.

Final score was 23-21 firefighters

Assistant Fire Chief Al Stolp said the turning point in the game was when the police department pitcher started to struggle and “we started to hit.”

“We could have played better today, but we played well enough to make it an interesting game,” Stolp said.

While each team gave their all to win the contest, the day was more about camaraderie.

“This is a great way to get together and get to know each other,” Police Chief Dale R. Racer said.

EMT Daniela Knoll said the relationship between the two departments is “excellent.”

“Today was kind of competitive, but we depend on the police to secure an area so we can do our job, and today helps build relationships,” Knoll said.

Also at the game, the Police Department retired #10 in memory of former Twin Lakes police officer Gary Hamachek, who died in a motorcycle accident last September. A jersey with his name was presented to his wife Hilary, who threw out the first pitch.

Here are some photos from the game:

Firefighter Mark Jaslowski scoops up a throw to second base as the runner slides under the tag. /Andrew Strother photo

Firefighter Mark Jaslowski scoops up a throw to second base as the runner slides under the tag in action from the firefighters playoff game. /Andrew Strother photo