In the rematch of a first responders slow-pitch softball game a year in the making, the Austin County Law Enforcement softball team beat the Austin County Fire/EMS softball team 9-5 in an exhibition match that kicked off the annual Guns N’ Hoses Softball Tournament.

Hosted by Bellville Little League and sponsored by Amanda Duffala from Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, Bellville Meat Market, Eckermann’s Meat Market and Brookshire Brothers, the full tournament was scheduled to debut last year before the pandemic forced a schedule change.

In 2021, six teams played a double-elimination bracket competition for a trophy and bragging rights where donations were made after exceeding a home run limit. Balk Dirty eventually was crowned champions after it earned a victory over Running Recycled in the championship contest.

One of the tournament’s organizers Mike Duffala said nearly $2,500 was raised for Bellville Little League through the first handful of games and the total by the end of the tournament almost doubled expectations.

The day’s events also included a 5K and 10K run where $2,000 was donated to CASA For Kids of South Central Texas. Participation was so flooded that organizers had to cap the number of participants to 125 runners in the 5K and 40 runners in the 10K.