I asked my parents if they wanted to “take me out to the ball game” on Sunday, and they were in.
This wasn’t just any ball game, though. It was the first Guns vs. Hoses softball matchup in Two Harbors, a friendly showdown between The Two Harbors Police Department and The Two Harbors Fire Department.
By the time we reached Odegard Park, it was clear we weren’t the only ones with that idea. Cars lined the nearby streets, and we ended up parking a few blocks away, a sign of just how heavily attended the event turned out to be.
Families walked toward the field carrying camp chairs and concessions or packed onto the bleachers. We unfolded our seats along the first-base side, closer to the outfield, and spent a good portion of the evening watching balls sail our direction. (Head’s up!)
The crowd was loud, relaxed, and ready to laugh, and the players gave them plenty of reasons. Both teams razzed each other throughout the night, sometimes even teammates on the same side. At one point, a pitcher called out to the outfielders, asking if they were ever going to throw anyone out, which drew a wave of laughter from the stands. The good-natured teasing made the game feel less like a competition and more like a community gathering with uniforms.
Even with several participants who hadn’t played much ball — or any ball — there were plenty of sharp plays. A few diving catches, a couple of quick throws to first, and some unexpectedly strong hits kept the game moving.
For most of the evening, The Two Harbors Police Department held the lead, building a comfortable margin as the innings went on. But the Two Harbors Fire Department chipped away at it, inning by inning, until the final frame when they surged ahead and sealed a 22–18 win. The comeback added a little extra electricity to the crowd, which stayed loud and engaged right to the last out.
Mid-game, the Fire Department’s pitcher went down with a leg injury. We were at the concessions stand, and even though we didn’t see what happened, the crowd was clearly concerned. Good thing emergency service professionals were in the vicinity!
A few other falls, run-ins and trips happened over the course of the evening, the kind that might leave people feeling it the next day. Still, the tone stayed light, and players on both sides helped each other up, dusted off uniforms and kept the game moving.
Beyond the action on the field, the event raised money for youth baseball and softball, as well as both departments. Families drifted between the field and the kid-friendly attractions: a bounce house, shaved ice from Kona Ice, and a dunk tank where young players could send their coaches into the water. The dunk tank drew its own crowd, with kids lining up for a chance to hit the target and erupting into cheers each time a coach splashed down.
It was a pleasant evening in Two Harbors, one of those that makes a community event feel even more like a celebration.
Though this was the first Guns vs. Hoses softball game here, it already felt like a tradition in the making. The turnout, the laughter, and the easy camaraderie between departments made it clear the community embraced the idea. I hope the event is the first of many.
