Ridgewood's Finest and Ridgewood's Bravest Battling in Charity Softball Game

A softball game between the Ridgewood police and fire deparments aims to donate proceeds to a charity set up in memory of a volunteer firefighter's daughter who tragically died after being struck by a car last year.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, police and firemen will be putting bat to ball at Veterans Field to revive a village tradition. The free event comes stocked with food and drink for sale, as well as a DJ, a silent auction and fire trucks and police cars the kids can check out.

"Police and fire used to have a game a long time ago," said firefighter Paul Brennan, who helped organize the game. "I wanted to see if we could get that started again and make it a charity event."

This year, all proceeds will benefit the Kelly Creegan Foundation.

, died after a friend's au pair proceeded into the Overbrook Road driveway last November, didn't see the girl and fatally struck her. Kelly is the daughter of volunteer fire department member Jeffrey Creegan and school teacher Elise Creegan.

About $1,000 has already been collected from local businesses in the Central Business District, Brennan said. The two public safety agencies have plans to make the event an annual one, with a new charity being selected each year as a beneficiary.

Neither firefighters or police officers were so bold as to smack talk in the days leading up to the softball match.

"It's a friendly game," said Ridgewood Police Detective Peter Youngberg, the PBA president. "They used to do it back in the day. It kind of fizzled out but we want to get it going again. It's a good cause, come on down and see the police and firemen in a different light."

The weather is projected to be picturesque, at 71 degrees and sunny. If for some reason rain drops fall, the event will take place next Sunday, Sept. 30. 

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