Getting their kicks: Emergency personnel brighten kids' day with kickball game

Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou helps his teammate, 5-year-old Hunter Dennis, down the first base line during Saturday's kickball game between the Fort Scott Fire and Police departments that was organized by the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bourbon County. (Michael Pommier/Tribune photos)

The Fort Scott Fire and Police departments squared off on the diamond Saturday for a friendly game of kickball. Despite the competition, the focus of the game was to have fun with the local youth involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Bourbon County.

According to BBBS Chairman of the Board and event organizer Vickie Chaplin, about 15 youths participated in game and were split evenly with the 12-15 police officers and firefighters. According to Fort Scott Police Chief Ron Puterbaugh the real competition is determining who had more fun, the adults or the youths.

"I think everyone had a great time," he said. "I think (the officers) enjoyed it as much as the kids did."

Cpl. Monica Richmeier, of the Fort Scott Police Department took stopped by the game long enough to get tagged out by 10-year-old Frank Miller.

In efforts to keep the game fair, and to ensure smiles never left the children's faces, the firefighters and police officers had to follow a couple of key rules. First, all adults participating had to kick with their off foot -- meaning that if an officer is right handed, he would have to kick with his left foot. The second was if an adult catches a ball kicked by youth, then he had to turn around three times before throwing the ball.

Adding to the humor was Puterbaugh's playful razzing of the firefighters by shouting, "no foot, no foot," or offering his coaching tips to the FSFD baserunners.

"The kids had a ball, they thought it was fabulous. The officers were great about learning their names and cheering them on," Chaplin said. "We had a wonderful morning."

With a majority of the children participating in the BBBS program deemed "at-risk," Chaplin said it was important for the kids to get aquatinted with the police officers and firefighters in non-emergency situations as they will not be afraid when they meet in an emergency situation.

"It also gives a chance for emergency services to have a positive contact in (the kids') lives," Puterbaugh said. "So many times their contacts are on the negative connotation."

Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou said that the firefighters and police officers are always looking for opportunities to be role models to youths in the community. He said it is a great opportunity for everybody involved.

"We try to work with any of the groups like that that want us to come out and participate," Ballou said. "It really gives the kids something to look forward to."

The two teams played two three-inning games with the FSFD winning the first and the FSPD winning the second.

Puterbaugh and Ballou both pledged their support in making the game an annual event.