For the MV Independent
The annual McKeesport K-9 Classic Baseball tournament held over Memorial Day weekend pulled in over 50% more in funding for the police department’s K-9 unit.
The amount of the donation after this year’s event totaled $15,500, which have been directly donated to help with training, medical expenses and other necessities for the four-legged officers.
Along with volunteers from the McKeesport K-9 unit, members of the McKeesport PONY-COLT baseball organization, the Penn State Greater Allegheny softball team and local sponsors Scotty’s Ice Cream and Final Score Trophies assisted in running the tournament, which featured sixty teams ranging from 8u to 12u teams from all over western Pennsylvania.
K-9 officers Ryco, Farkle and Stryker participated in K-9 demonstrations with partners Lt. Fran Angert, Sgt. Nick Mathews and Lt. Bob Eastman.
The amount raised likely would have been even larger had a full day and a half of games not been washed out by inclement weather.
“We were originally projecting a bigger revenue for the donation, but I’m still impressed with the amount considering the weather,” tournament director Ed Moslander said.
“Even after 252 bags of field dry, the fields help up nicely,” Jim Yoannone, director of field maintenance said.
Both men credited the McKeesport Public Works staff for their efforts to get the fields in playable shape.
The winning teams were awarded with a trophy featuring McKeesport K-9 officer Farkle.
Winning championships in their divisions were Peters Township and Burrell (8u), Brad-Mar-Pine Gold and Burrell (9u), Spartan Central Allies Blue and West Mifflin Phantoms (10u), Elizabeth Tribe (11u) and Brad-Mar-Pine Athletics and Blackhawk (12u).
The McKeesport K-9 unit is self-funded by volunteers, fundraisers and donations. Donations can be made year-round by contacting the McKeesport Police Department at 412-675-5016 or by reaching the unit directly through its Facebook page.