Fayette County Public Safety Wins 2007 Public Safety Games
The Public Safety Games is an annual event held by the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department. The games are comprised of the public safety agencies within the county. This year’s competition included four teams; Fayette County Public Safety (Fire Department, 911, and Animal Control), Peachtree City and Fayetteville Fire Departments, and Peachtree City Police Department. Due to various reasons the remaining agencies were unable to participate. The games include a total of sixteen events and last for two weeks. The events include flag football, 5K and 1 mile races, kickball, fishing, volleyball, tennis, billiards, skeet shooting, basketball, bowling, golf, and softball.
The Fayette County Department of Public Safety is proud to announce themselves as the champions of the 2007 Public Safety Games. This win was well deserved after two weeks of very competitive games. The games concluded on Saturday October 6 with the softball tournament. Peachtree City Fire Department came into the softball tournament with a 14 point advantage over Fayette County Public Safety. In order for Fayette County to have a chance of overcoming the 14 point deficit they had to enter two teams in the tournament; one having to win the tournament and the other to place. After one team lost the first game placing them in the loser’s bracket, Fayette County had their work cut out. Fayette County’s Team A was then able to eliminate Peachtree City PD in the following game. Peachtree City Fire beat Fayette County Team B in the winner’s bracket. This loss put the two Fayette County teams playing each other to decide who would play Peachtree City Fire whom had yet to lose. The two Fayette county teams agreed for Team B to forfeit to Team A in order to save energy and prevent possible injuries. Team B was awarded third place and earned the much needed points. With Peachtree City Fire not having a loss in a double elimination tournament, Team A would have to beat them twice in order to win the tournament. Team A was able to easily defeat Peachtree City in the first game 23-14. The second game had all the characteristics of a winner take all game. The lead swapped almost every inning. In the bottom of the 6th inning Fayette county took a 2 run lead. All they needed now was three outs and it is over. Peachtree City had other plans scoring four runs in the top of the 7th and taking a 2 run lead to the bottom of the seventh. Fayette County’s lead off hitter popped up out to lead things off. The next batter walked and the following singled. With one out and two on Craig Woods takes the plate after stating “I am going to tie it up right now”. On the first pitch Craig hit a shot into the right field corner. The tying runs scored easily, when Craig got to third he never slowed down and avoided the play at the plate and not only scored but won the game. Fayette County’s 1st and 3rd finish was just what they needed to edge out Peachtree City for the 2007 overall title.
The points lead during this year’s competition bounced back in forth between Fayette County and Peachtree City Fire. Both teams were determined to win and showed great sportsmanship during the events. Prior to the final game of softball team captains Scott Roberts of Fayette County and Chad Matheny of Peachtree City met in the infield, shook hands and agreed whoever won the games deserved it.
Fayette County Public Safety will hold the trophy for a year. The trophy will then be up for grabs again next fall when the 2008 games are held.
Pictured above are some of Fayette County’s 60 participants in this year’s games.
They are: Kneeling from left to right – Scott Fields, Amber Gildner, Michelle Brown, and Mike Singleton. Standing from left to right – Clay Barnett, Ashlee Koontz, Scott Roberts, Jason Peckham, Jimmy Hall, Keith Baney, Jeff Ramsey, Craig Woods, Steve McGovern, Mindy Folden, and Daniel Vieira