Badge vs. Badge Postponed—but the Lessons Keep Coming

Dorian and I spent two months planning it. A charity softball showdown—Badge vs. Badge—pitting Brewer Fire against Brewer Police, all to benefit Brewer Little League. Organized by D-Max Merch, the buzz was growing, the players were pumped, and everything was set for a Sunday full of fun, food trucks, music, and community. Then… the rain came.

I held out hope until nearly 7 p.m., watching the rain pour down and obsessively checking the radar, refusing to accept reality. But the field was soaked and the forecast called for another half-inch of rain. I had no choice. The event had to be postponed.

Then came the scramble. I jumped into overdrive—calling the fire department, the police, the umpire, the guitarist, food truck vendors, and the list goes on. I hit social media and updated the Facebook event cover image: “POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER.” The words stung. We'd poured heart and soul into this.

This morning, in a frantic message sent before 7 a.m. on a Sunday, I reached out to our incredible Mayor—who immediately stepped in to help spread the word. I also fired off an early email to the school principal, asking for help sharing the update. Within hours, a citywide alert was issued, and both the school and the city shared the news across their channels. Little League followed with an email and social media posts. The outpouring of support reminded me why we do what we do—but the disappointment was still real.

As I stared at the updated Facebook image with “postponed” plastered across the top, I felt it hit me hard. This wasn't the first time I’d had to pull the plug on a major event. We canceled Blitz, the Bangor area’s entrepreneurship conference, in the wake of the tragic Lewiston shooting, where innocent lives were lost and our state came together in mourning. There was no question—sometimes, plans must pause for pain, and that's part of leadership too.

Here’s what I’ve learned (again):

1. Build your contact list early. Have phone numbers and backup contacts for everyone.

2. Communicate fast and clearly. Don’t wait—get ahead of the news.

3. Ask for help. Your community wants to support you. Let them.

4. Have a backup plan. Weather and life are unpredictable—don’t be caught off guard.

5. Feel your feelings. Disappointment is real. You’re allowed to be bummed. Just don’t unpack and live there.

   
   

When I told Dorian the event was postponed, he didn’t miss a beat: “Stupid rain! But we’ll just reschedule for a sunny day!”

And he’s right. Life throws curveballs—and sometimes rain clouds. But as long as we keep swinging, the next pitch might just be the home run.