First responders can always be found lending a helping hand.  This weekend is no exception.

“We’ll be playing the fire department against the cops,” Scott Emerson, the assistant fire chief for Jackson Township, explains.

Seven police departments along with three fire departments are coming together to support the East Taylor-Jackson baseball softball league in their first ever “Guns versus Hoses” game.

“The league is always in need of any items.  They need things from children’s equipment, to field maintenance, and concession stand maintenance, so if we could help them out a little with that, that’s what we’re going to do,” Cambria Township Officer Kristy Freoni says.

The 30 participants worked to get sponsors to support the event and helped to raise money.

“The results were overwhelming,” says Jackson Township Police Captain Phil Vaught.  “Everybody as ready to go, donate money, food, whatever it took.”

They also sold T-shirts.  A portion of that will go towards the total amount donated.  On game day they are selling food and 50/50 tickets.

However, it’s more than just a game and a fundraiser.  According to Vaught, it’s also going to give kids and their families the opportunity to speak to the first responders, “This is a perfect event, not only to raise money for our communities, but also to let people come out and meet our first responders and get comfortable with them.”

Right now both sides agree that there’s no question about who will be hitting the home runs.

“Of course the fire department will win,” Emerson says.  “We’ve been talking smack on Facebook all week.”

“The firemen, no question.  They’re exceptional athletes,” Vaught tells WTAJ.

The game will be played Saturday at 6 p.m. at Mitchell Memorial Park in Jackson Township.