Chattanooga Police Team Wins Charity Softball Tournament
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — AT&T Field hosted a different kind of ballgame this weekend as local first responders traded in their uniforms for softball jerseys, competing in a tournament that raised money for children in need.
For more than 15 years, the “Guns and Hoses” boxing series has supported the Forgotten Child Fund and YMCA Y-CAP program, both of which serve kids across the Chattanooga area. This year, organizers decided to expand the effort beyond the boxing ring.
“Not everybody wants to get in the ring and take a punch for charity,” explained board member Robert Batty. “This was our way to give people another way to contribute while still making an impact.”
Teams made up of officers, firefighters, and coaches squared off on the diamond, with Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers suiting up alongside his department. By the end of the day, the CPD squad captured the championship trophy.
Even without the hardware, other teams considered the day a success. Catoosa County Fire Battalion Chief Rodney Johnson said the cause outweighed the scoreboard.
“Raising money for kids is what it’s all about,” Johnson said. “But to do it here, playing alongside brothers and sisters at the Lookouts’ stadium, that’s something special — a childhood dream for many of us.”
For more than 15 years, the “Guns and Hoses” boxing series has supported the Forgotten Child Fund and YMCA Y-CAP program, both of which serve kids across the Chattanooga area. This year, organizers decided to expand the effort beyond the boxing ring.
“Not everybody wants to get in the ring and take a punch for charity,” explained board member Robert Batty. “This was our way to give people another way to contribute while still making an impact.”
Teams made up of officers, firefighters, and coaches squared off on the diamond, with Chattanooga Police Chief John Chambers suiting up alongside his department. By the end of the day, the CPD squad captured the championship trophy.
Even without the hardware, other teams considered the day a success. Catoosa County Fire Battalion Chief Rodney Johnson said the cause outweighed the scoreboard.
“Raising money for kids is what it’s all about,” Johnson said. “But to do it here, playing alongside brothers and sisters at the Lookouts’ stadium, that’s something special — a childhood dream for many of us.”