Mountain Home’s firefighters and police officers are set to compete in the fifth annual Charity Ragball Game on Sunday, Sept. 13, to support 9-month-old Waylon Callahan and his family. The game will begin at 5 p.m. at the Mountain Home High School softball field located off West Road, with all proceeds going directly to the Callahan family.
Waylon has spent nearly his entire life at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, after suffering a stroke and a brain bleed shortly after birth. According to Mountain Home Fire Department Captain Jake Bickford, Waylon’s mother has remained by his side throughout his hospitalization. Waylon is the grandson of Jason Carter, a local business owner known for his longtime support of both the fire and police departments.
“He’s always helped us,” Bickford said of Carter. “We were pumped to be able to give back to his family like that.”
The charity game, which pits the fire department against the police department, has become a beloved local event, with the two teams alternating victories across the four prior matchups. Last year, the firefighters claimed the title with a decisive 18-6 win, tying the all-time series at two games each. While playful rivalries and good-natured antics between the teams have become a hallmark of the game, the event’s primary goal remains supporting community causes.
Since its inception in 2019, the game has raised nearly $20,000 for local families and charities, including the widow of Mountain Home Police Officer Billy Dearborn, children’s programs through the Salvation Army, and Project Fire Buddies. Last year’s event brought in a record $5,802 for the family of 11-year-old Krew Hudson, who was undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Organizers credit the community’s generosity for the growing success of the fundraiser. “That’s not us. That is the community coming out and even donations at the games supporting our cause every year,” said firefighter Tommy Feliccia, one of the event’s coordinators, prior to last year’s game.
This year, the game has been moved from its traditional Saturday evening spot to a Sunday, starting an hour earlier. Bickford explained that the date shift was necessary due to scheduling conflicts with department training and other commitments. Attendees can expect returning food vendors, as well as a new soda truck. Seating is limited at the field, and spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.
Ragball, a variation of baseball and softball, features a slightly larger and softer ball designed to keep the game lighthearted and accessible, with frequent high-scoring action. Regardless of which team claims the trophy on Sunday, the funds raised will support a family in need – a purpose that unites the community behind this annual tradition.