The Mesachie Group of firefighter hit it out of the park again this year with another successful charity softball tournament.
The Lake Cowichan Fire Department were the winners of the annual slow pitch tournament for the second year in a row after emerging victorious in the final game against the Duncan Fire Department on Sunday (June 21).
The tournament sees firefighters from all across Vancouver Island come together each year for a weekend-long softball tournament and auction in order to raise as much money as possible for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC).
Once again, the tournament and auction proved to be a success for the Mesachie Group, raising over $32,500 for MDC, though the group is still working on the final tally which includes revenue made from the concession stand and other sources. Last year’s tournament raised a slightly higher $36,000.
“The auction made $32,500, but there’s still a bit to come in and some last minute finances to figure out,” organizer Dwain King, of the Ladysmith Fire Department, said.
The group chose MDC as its charity of choice back in 1979, making this the 36th annual tournament.
The Lake Cowichan Fire Department came out on top once again, after defeating Duncan in the finals. Lake Cowichan also won last year’s tournament after outrunning the Ladysmith Fire Department, who were the winners of the 2013 tournament.
Firefighters from Honeymoon Bay, Youbou, Mesachie Lake, Caycuse, Cowichan Bay and Langford also participated in the event.
King said that the event had a great turnout this year, with cooperative weather and plenty of people lining the bleachers.
“It was a great sunny weekend to enjoy a couple ball games, and a lot of people did,” King said.
The tournament’s awards were presented at the conclusion of the final game on Sunday afternoon.
The award for the Most Sportsmanlike Team was presented to the Ladysmith Fire Department.
The MVP award went to local firefighter Steve Vatcher, rounding off an incredibly successful weekend for the Lake Cowichan firefighters in particular.