26-04-2025
Annual Boots and Badges softball game, blood drive aims to raise money for community
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Morehead City first responders are gearing up for a competitive and charitable softball game Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025.
The Crystal Coast Boots and Badges is a nonprofit group of local Carteret County first responders.
Saturday, they will be taking part in a tradition of having firefighters take on police officers in the charity game.
Founder of the organization, Kristen Davis, said she started the charity game to assist a local deputy who was battling a brain tumor.
Many games later, the money still goes toward helping people with medical issues.
'We were able to assist them financially during his recovery and trips back and forth to Chapel Hill and because it was so successful, we continued to do it every year. This will be year 15 actually,' Davis said. 'It's just the spirit of this county is when somebody, anybody is in need, everybody just kind of bands together and these games are just a small glimpse of that community spirit in Carteret County.'
For first responders, it's friendly competition but also a way to come together as one community. 'A lot of the times that we have the recipients, that they've been first responders within the community, people that you know, and you get to help them out yourself,' School Resource Officer in Morehead City Charlie Millea said. 'So, being on the board, I get to volunteer and go out and speak to the businesses and make the logos and things like that to actually help this come together and get some money for these people in their the times of need.'
The competition isn't confined to the field as police officers and firefighters will also take part in the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive.
The blood drive will be May 8th to see which department can donate the most. 'For every donor that comes in will get to vote, you know, red for fire, blue for police,' Kristin Willis with the American Red Cross said. 'And then yes, we will do a winner and the winner gets to take home the trophy.'
First pitch of the game Saturday is at 3 p.m. at Big Rock Stadium. Tickets are $10 apiece. There will also be T-shirts available and raffle prizes to raise money for the cause.
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