Many healthy romantic relationships center around selfless acts, sweet gestures and the occasional bouquet of flowers.
But for Bemidji State alumni MacKenzie Burnham and Tyler Orgon, who were opponents in Bucky’s Celebrity Softball Game this year, the perfect balance also includes a heavy dose of smack talk.
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“To be honest, the back-and-forth banter is what makes the game fun,” Orgon said.
“I ended up playing first base, and he was on base a lot,” Burnham added. “It was really easy to give him some chirping from behind. And I could try to get him out at the same time.”
In their defense, the couple was expecting to team up when they agreed to play. But pitting them against each other sure made for a more entertaining storyline.
“Angela Schmidt is my former boss from when I was a student worker at Bemidji State. She’s the one putting this on, so of course she heckled me to play,” Burnham said. “And then I offered up my baseball-playing boyfriend, thinking he’d be on my team. Lo and behold, the rosters came out for me to realize, ‘Wait a minute, we’re against each other?’”
As a result, the newly forged Burnham-Orgon rivalry started a week before first pitch. It got so ugly that Burnham even tried to hoodwink Orgon into a fashion faux pas.
“Tyler asked me if he should wear baseball pants or shorts, and I knew it was going to be hot,” Burnham said. “So I told him, ‘I think you should wear your pants. It’ll look nicer.’ But it truly was just to make him sweat more.”
“But it paid off for me,” interjected Orgon, standing tall in his pinstripes.
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“Yeah, it really didn’t work out,” Burnham ceded. “They still ended up beating us really bad.”
Orgon’s Whitecaps came out victorious by a 20-8 score over Burnham’s Green Sox. Orgon belted a first-inning home run and was ultimately named his team’s MVP. He successfully navigated Burnham’s playful trash talk, which she admitted she had started. But Orgon was smart enough to treat lightly after the win.
“Oh, I think I better be nice the rest of the night,” he said. “She’s going to be a little butthurt about this, so I better take it easy.”
“But he’s going to be more sore,” Burnham quipped.
“Yes, 100%,” Orgon said. “My age is catching up with me.”
Keeping connected in each dugout
One of the best parts of Bucky’s Celebrity Softball Game is how it brings together players and fans from all different corners of the community. From seasoned athletes to others who haven’t picked up a bat or stepped on a field in years, the event offers the ability to rally together with old and new friends no matter how the scoreboard ends up looking.
For Orgon — a 2014 and 2022 BSU alumnus who’s now a biologist for the Red Lake Department of Natural Resources Water Resources Division — his dugout consisted of mostly unfamiliar faces, meaning he had the chance to meet new alumni and friends of his alma mater. Meanwhile, Burnham — a 2019 Bemidji State grad and now a fourth-grade teacher at Gene Dillon Elementary — shared the experience with plenty of folks she’s admired for years.
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“It was a lot of fun to do this with a former teacher as my coach, and then a few community members that I get to see out and about doing their jobs,” she said. “We got to hang back and have fun tonight, and it was a good time.”
Hijinks aside, both Burnham and Orgon were thankful to engage with their alma mater in a new way. Bucky’s Celebrity Softball Game is in just its second year, but Burnham and Orgon hardly wasted any time joining in on the fun.
“Anytime I can come back and support the Alumni & Foundation, I’m going to do it,” Orgon said. “It was a great turnout, and I couldn’t be happier.”
The game was both an extension of Burnham’s college days and in step with Orgon’s current work. As a result, it was the perfect storm for camaraderie (and, yes, even nemeses) to form.
“I went to a lot of baseball and softball games when I was in college at Bemidji State,” Burnham said. “It was really cool to actually get out onto the field and have some fun for BSU.”
“With my line of work, I’m very fortunate to bring in Bemidji State grad students,” Orgon added. “For me, supporting the alumni and having that presence here feels like an honor. I feel like I’m continuing to support, whether it’s through my line of work or fun games like this.”
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