Congressional Women, Press Play Ball for Charity (photos)

Traditional politics took a back seat as a bipartisan group of women members of Congress and women of the Washington press corps stepped up to the plate to do battle against breast cancer at the 11th annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game, held on Wednesday, June 19, at Watkins Recreation Center on Capitol Hill.

This year’s fundraiser raised $358,000 for the Young Survival Coalition to assist young adults affected by breast cancer. A total of $1.6 million has been raised since the inaugural game in 2009.

Presidential hopefuls Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), the starting pitcher for the members of Congress, and announcer Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) took time off from the campaign trail to participate.

In a spirited match, the press squad (aka “The Bad News Babes”) prevailed over the members by a 10-4 score. Winning pitcher Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report compounded the damage by slamming a homer over the left field fence. It was the press team’s fourth straight victory and sixth win overall.

This year’s MVPs were Gretchen Frazee of PBS and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia). Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Florida), who at 78 became the oldest member in the game’s history, received the Spirit Award.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) and Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) were on hand to show their support. Megan Cavanagh, of the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own,” sang the national anthem. Her co-actress in the film, Tracy Reiner, threw out a first pitch, sharing duties with Virginia Manina, one of the original players from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and health executive Laira Roth, on behalf of co-sponsor Mylan N.V.

“Every year I leave the Congressional Women’s Softball Game with an overwhelming feeling of pride. There is no other event that brings together women across the political spectrum in this way for such a great cause,” said Congressional Women’s Softball Game President Atalie Ebersole.

View Jeff Malet’s photos from the field by clicking on the photo icons below.

tagscharityCongressCongressional Women's Softball GameCWSGpoliticsPressSenatorYoung Survival Coalition