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First Responder Charity softball event Saturday

THE FIRST-EVER First Responder Charity Softball Tournament will take place this weekend at Ranger Field in Iron Mountain. Some of those involved include, from left, Ed Mattson, Iron Mountain Police Department; Geno Basanese, Michigan State Police; Randal Lapp, Iron Mountain Fire Department; Jeff Friedenstab, IMFD; Tom McCarty, IMFD; Ryan Sanders, Breitung Township Fire Department; Tyler Skoglund, IMFD; Dan Martell, IMFD/BTFD; Z.Beatty, the Hippies team; and Ponch Thomas, the Hippies team.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The first-ever First Responder Charity Softball Tournament will be played starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ranger Field in Iron Mountain.

Such an event has “been talked about for years,” said Ed Mattson, director of police and fire services in Iron Mountain.

All local law enforcement agencies and first responders have been invited to take part in the event, which should include staff from Iron Mountain Police, Iron Mountain Fire, Breitung Township Fire, Integrity Care EMS, Michigan State Police, Dickinson County Sheriff, Beacon and other local agencies.

A $20 fee is required to play on one of the teams, with all money raised going to charity. Spectators will not be charged.

“It’s about comradery and raising money for charity,” Mattson said.

The tournament is a triple-header, with the opener being played between two teams of Hippies –players who are not with law enforcement or first responders.

The second game will have police squaring off against firefighters and EMS, with the finale pitting the winners of the first two games against each other for the tournament title.

“Everybody that plays gets a nomination or vote towards the charity of their choice,” Mattson said, adding that all donations will remain within Dickinson County.

The local Little League will have a concession stand during the event.

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