Weiser first responders beat Ontario 40-39 in annual softball tourney

by Steve Fenske
 Since 2015 Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps has honored area First Responders with an Annual Softball Tournament.
 We are now in our sixth year, and we are grateful to our neighbors to the west, the Malheur County First Responders, for coming to Weiser to pay tribute to the fallen, and competing against their fellow police officers and firefighters.
 We were blessed to hear the angel voice of Marissa Goodwin sing our national anthem and to have Mayor Randy Hibbard throw out the first pitch of the game.
 Following the toss of the coin, Ontario Police Department Chief Steven Romero led a group of officers, fire fighters, and state troopers in a game of softball that was a cliff hanger to the very end.
 Joining us from Malheur County were Ontario Police Chief Steven Romero, Officer Sam Dadabbo, James Swank, John Esplin, Rick Retna, Tyler Bullington and Todd Harnden.
 Malheur County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Lopez, and Ontario Fire Fighters Cameron Saito, Mark Saito and Brett Levitt also participated in the game, as well as Oregon State Troopers Lance Silva, Kevin Harris and Skylar Johnson.
 Washington County’s team consisted of Sheriff Matt Thomas, Deputy Sam Edwards and Ben Thomason, Weiser Police Chief Carl Smith, Officers Cody Samson, Nick Randall, Berto Reyes and Austin Stratton; along with Jason Smith. From the City and Rural Fire Departments were John Stuart, Johnny Stuart, Tanya Franklin, Pete Ney, Eddie Hynek, Denton Odoms, Brady Edwards, and Lyndon Haines.
 The teams played seven innings with Ontario’s gang at the plate in the first inning.
 Ontario started off the game with a 5-0 lead. Weiser came back at the bottom of the first, bringing in 15 runners and taking a 15-5 lead.
 In the second inning, Ontario picked up six more runs to bring the score to 15-11. Weiser scored no runs at the bottom of the second inning.
 In the third inning, Ontario picked up another run, but Weiser hit back with seven more additional runs to bring the score to 22-12 in favor of Weiser.
 However, in the top of the fourth inning, Ontario jumped back to the top of the leader board, scoring 17 runs, with Weiser picking up only four runs at the bottom, making it 29-26 Ontario.
 At the top of the fifth, Ontario picked up five more runs but watched as Weiser exploded, picking up 11 runs at the bottom of the inning to bring the score to 37-34 Weiser.
 The top of the sixth brought no joy for Ontario, Weiser scoring three more runs at the bottom of the inning, extending the lead to 40-34.
 During the final inning, at the top of the seventh, Ontario came back, picking up five more runs, bringing the score to 40-39 with two men on first and third, and two outs.
 Berto Reyes’ final pitch clinched it for Weiser, ending the game 40 to 39.
 A celebration party was held for both teams following the game, and the winning team was recognized with a set of 20th Anniversary Commemorative pins.
 Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps would like to express its sincere thanks to all the local sponsors whose donations made this event possible.
 Sponsors included Weiser C.O.P.’s, Masingill Law Office, MTE Communications, The Insurance Group, Peoples Furniture, AmeriTitle, Columbia Bank, Copper Lounge, Jim Pike Co., Idaho Pizza, Horizon Credit Union, Sivero Lawn Services, Living in the News, Ridley’s Family Market, and Weiser Fire Chief Kerry Nyce.
 We would also like to thank Ken Anderson for his silent auction raffle donation that brought in $300 for our Arrow-Heart program.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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