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Battle of the Badges raises $1,000 for Medicine Hat Food Bank

Jul 16, 2018 | 12:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The big winner of Sunday’s ‘Battle of the Badges’ wasn’t either the Medicine Hat Police Service or Medicine Hat Fire Department.

Instead, it was spectators of the third annual event helping to raise $1,000 for the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank at Athletic Park.

On the diamond, it was the Medicine Hat Police Service coming out on top 9-6 in six innings to win their second Battle of the Badges trophy.

Police came out with a huge five-run first inning to take the sizable lead and never looked back, fending off a late Fire Department rally.

Austin Weisgerber with Medicine Hat Police said the team followed the game plan to perfection to beat their rivals.

“Good defence I think, everybody made some good plays in the field,” said Weisgerber. “We got off to a hot start and we just kind of kept it rolling.”

Firefighter Rob Stock matched up against one of his childhood friends on Sunday and said there’s always a bit of a friendly rivalry with their brothers and sisters in blue.

“We work pretty close with the police department with calls and stuff,” said Stock. “So, it’s a good rivalry, we got a little bit of bragging rights [up for grabs].”

Money for the Food Bank was raised through $10 ticket sales, with the Medicine Hat Mavericks letting those who attended the game watch their Sunday meeting against the Fort McMurray Giants for free.

Weisgerber said it’s a mandate for first responders to support the community and added he’s glad to see so many officers and firefighters who turned out.

“This is the community we serve,” he said. “So, for us to be able to do what we can and do our part to give back, it’s for sure a big part of it.”

Echoing Weisgerber’s comments, Stock said Sunday’s game also gave the public a peek behind the curtain into their lives out of uniform.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for us members to get out there and support the people that need help in the community,” said Stock. “The community helps us, it’s one big community, it takes a lot of work.”

Police have won the last two Battle of the Badges, while local firefighters captured the inaugural championship in 2016.

Final numbers for attendance will be released by the Mavericks later in the week.