Last Updated, Apr 6, 2024, 1:28 AM Press Releases
Bragging rights on the line with Peabody Police vs. Fire softball
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PEABODY — Peabody Tanners Little League, in partnership with the Peabody Police and Fire Departments, is putting a twist on a tradition that is sure to become a community favorite while, at the same time, raising money for a few great causes.

Charity Softball Showdown: Peabody Fire vs. Peabody Police will take place on April 27 at the men’s field at Lt. Ross Park.

The event is dedicated to supporting the Henry Breckenridge Foundation and Peabody Tanners Little League Softball.

The game starts at 10:30 a.m. following the league’s opening-day parade, which starts at the Kiley School at around 9:30 a.m. Cash and check donations will be accepted all day. The event includes 50/50 raffles, a raffle for Boston Red Sox tickets, a bake sale, and many other family-friendly activities.

Peabody Tanners Little League Softball Information Officer Mike Tango said the league came up with the idea when it was looking for a way to jazz up Opening Day.

“We thought it would be great to kind of revive the Jim Rice tournament idea with a real softball game, not one-pitch,” he said. “We want to do this every year going forward so that, God forbid, if something does happen to someone, we’ll be in a position to help them out and also be supporting the game of Little League softball.”

Tango said the Breckeridge family came up with the idea of supporting the foundation.

“Originally, we thought of helping Henry’s family, but they decided the money would serve a better purpose within the foundation,” Tango said. “Everybody loved Henry so not only is it a good cause, but it will be a lot of fun for everyone.”

Peabody firefighter Kevin Doherty agreed, saying the game is a “great chance to raise some money for an excellent cause.”

“We haven’t done anything like this since the Rice tournament was discontinued a few years back, so we see this as a great chance for everyone to get together and develop those old rivalries like we had at the Rice while at the same time, honoring Henry and supporting softball,” Doherty said. “I knew Henry from meeting him on calls. I knew he had an impact but didn’t realize how big an impact he had until the funeral when you saw he touched every life, not just in Peabody – but beyond.”

In terms of bragging rights, Doherty said he believes Peabody Fire is the team to beat. 

“I think we beat them the last time we played the Jim Rice tournament, so we may have the upper hand at least until they can take it back,” he said.

Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin thinks otherwise.

“I’m predicting a win on behalf of the team in blue,” he said. “I am confident in the men and women in my department. Actually, we are fortunate that both departments have a lot of young people with some good athletes, so it will be a good game.”

Griffin hasn’t decided what his role will be.

“Maybe they’ll want me to be a coach,” he said. “I’m not sure what they’ll want me to do, but I’m happy to leave it to the real athletes. The big thing about this, some good stuff is going to come out of such a tragic loss. I see people are looking out for each other more. You see a young healthy person suddenly is gone, out of the blue, so an event like this one is bound to be important for the community. I’m not 100 percent sure how it all came about, but we had been talking about doing something, and then we lost Henry, so I think this is a great way of remembering him and raising some money, so I’m all for it.”

A post on the league’s Facebook page said the event is “dedicated to supporting a cause close to our hearts.”

“We’re rally together for Officer Henry Breckenridge and Peabody Little League Softball. It’s more than a game; it’s a community coming together to make a difference in the foundation of Officer Breckenridge and support the future of youth softball.”

  • Anne Marie Tobin

    Anne Marie Tobin is a sports reporter for the Item and sports editor of the Lynnfield and weeklies. She also serves as the associate editor of North Shore Golf magazine. Anne Marie joined the Weekly News staff in 2014 and Essex Media Group in 2016. A seven-time Massachusetts state amateur women’s golf champion and member of the Massachusetts Golf Association Hall of Fame, Tobin is graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Suffolk University Law School. She practiced law for 30 years before becoming a sports reporter. Follow her on Twitter at: @WeeklyNewsNow.





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