The third annual Bury the Hatchet Pharmacy vs. Engineering Kickball Game, a tradition revived in 2022 but originating in 1917, took place on April 23rd at the King Horn Sports Complex Field House.
This matchup, initially scheduled at Kerscher Stadium, was moved indoors, but the change in venue did not dampen the competitive spirit of the two teams.
The following video was made by the author to promote the event back in 2022. It was sent to ONU students by email one week prior to the event.
In a rematch from the previous year, pharmacy sought to reclaim the Hatchet from the office Dean of Engineering, JD Yoder, after engineering’s victory in 2023. This year’s game started with engineering scoring in the bottom of the first inning, signaling their determination to keep the Hatchet. The following two innings were highly competitive, resulting in neither team able to add to the score.
Reese Weissenfluh, Thomas Miller, Ethan Schwipps, Evan Blazek, Maxim Smith, Liv Bowser, Tyler Ruda, Justin Duckwall, Dale Hoyt, and Chloe Long formed the Pharmacy team. The Engineering team, looking to defend their title, included Evan Dinan, Max Hoffman, Caden Edelbrock, Carson Erick, Grant Bell, Aaron Bresler, Matthew Yeager, Tucker Hunsberger, Mason Greenawalt, and Ethan Force.
The pivotal moment in the kickball game came in the top of the 5th and final inning when, with two outs, the pharmacy team rallied to score, thus tying the game and gaining momentum. This surge continued, with pharmacy adding three more runs, securing a 4-1 victory over engineering. Despite engineering’s efforts, they were unable to respond to pharmacy’s late-game surge.
Dean Yoder, showing his support for the engineering team, was dressed in an all-black ensemble, contrasting with pharmacy’s orange uniforms. The event, jointly hosted by the Pharmacy Council and Joint Engineering Council (JEC), saw JEC president, Natalie Garrett, keeping score, while Sami McCord, Pharmacy Council Vice President, assisted with the raffle.
The raffle, featuring prizes such as a coffee basket, local Ada vouchers to restaurants, and an ONU swag basket, added to the festive atmosphere of the event.
With this victory, students can expect to see the Hatchet back in the pharmacy building before the end of the school year, marking another chapter in this anticipated rivalry.