Middleboro Fire Department on fire with flag football win
Members of the police and fire departments go head-to-head on Battis Field on Friday, Nov. 21. Photos by Grace Roche
Crowd members cheer on one of the players.
Fire equipment sits by the sidelines during the game.
Puns abound on signs cheering on members of the fire department.
Police officers Cody Soderlund and Christopher Zutaut discuss the game.
Members of the police and fire departments go head-to-head on Battis Field on Friday, Nov. 21. Photos by Grace Roche
Crowd members cheer on one of the players.
Fire equipment sits by the sidelines during the game.
Puns abound on signs cheering on members of the fire department.
Police officers Cody Soderlund and Christopher Zutaut discuss the game.
MIDDLEBORO — Fans filled the stands of Battis Field on Friday night to watch the fire and police departments compete for a charity flag football game.
The departments met Nov. 21 in a Battle of the Badges game to raise funds for the police and fire unions, and for the Middleboro football and cheerleading teams.
Dylan Thomas, playing for the Middleboro Police Department, said he wanted to play on the team because of his competitive nature, team spirit and the opportunity for community outreach.
He said some of the players are athletes and there were a few practices held at the department to prepare, but most were focused on having fun.
“We just came out here to play, have fun and support a good cause,” Thomas said.
He said members of the police department are close, and they also have a good relationship with the fire department.
At the back of the field, several on-duty firefighters cheered on their fellow department members.
Captain Allan Dean said even if he hadn’t been working that night, he would have been happy to stay on the sidelines due to his lack of football expertise.
“I don’t play football — I’m a spectator only,” he said.
Dean and some of his fellow firefighters agreed the department took the game very seriously and prepared accordingly.
He said the Middleboro Fire Department spent some time getting prepared for the game, and held a spaghetti dinner the night before to fuel up players.
Also in support of the fire department was Bethany Hall and her daughter. Hall said the pair came from Whitman to support her daughter’s “Uncle Ryan.”
“He was just hired on the force last year and this is his first time doing an event so we’re here for that,” she said.
Before the game, she said she worried the police had an edge, but by the end the fire department dominated the game in a 34-0 shutout and walked away with the night’s trophy.
