Congressional Women, Press Play Ball for Charity (photos)
By June 21, 2019 0 3630
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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.
- Tamara Keith, NPR (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Bad News Babes (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Members (photo by Jeff Malet)
- In the announcers booth, Gary Caruso (CWSG Organizing Committee), Andrea Mitchelll (NBC), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Gloria Borger (CNN) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Pre-game calisthenics with Rep’s Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Leigh Munsil, CNN and Washington Capitals mascot Slapshot (photo by Jeff Malet)
- From NBC News: press coach Frank Thorp, announcer Andrea Mitchell and Leigh Ann Caldwell (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Bad News Babes Press squad: Emily Goodin (Daily Mail), Amy Walter (Cook Political Report)Erica Hendry (PBS), Tamara Keith (PBS), Amna Nawaz (PBS), Lisa Desjardins (PBS) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) and Washington Capitals mascot Slapshot (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Debra Haaland (D-N.M.) and Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Mikayla Bouchard, The New York Times (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) signs autographs for Ryan and Drew (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.); Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Megan Pollock (Samsung), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (-N.Y.) wearing NY Fire Dept. coat. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Coach Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Col.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.); Rep. Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Umpires Jamie Dillard and Nick Falvo (photo by Jeff Malet).
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Coach Natalie Buchanon Joyce, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Coach Tori Barnes (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Coach Frank Thorp of NBC News (photo by Jeff Malet)
- This year’s Game raised over $350,000 for the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the largest nonprofic in the U.S. dedicated to young adults affected by breast cancer. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) chats with Lynn Sweet of The Chicago Sun-Times. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-la.)L (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Press Coach Frank Thorp and Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Jennifer Bendery, HuffPost (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Leigh Ann Caldwell, NBC News (photo by Jeff Malet)
- (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Laira Roth with DC Beasties (on behalf of Mylan) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Presidential hopeful Senator Kirsten Gillibrand took time off from the campaign trail to pitch for the Congressional women. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Some of the Bad News Babes inside their dugout.
- Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Iii.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Mikayla Bouchard, The New York Times (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Leigh Munsil, CNN (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Jennifer Bendery, HuffPost (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Gretchen Frazee of the PBS NewsHour was selected her team’s MVP. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times and Lisa Desjardins of the PBS NewsHour (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times swings for the fences. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Leigh Ann Caldwell, NBC News (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Amna Nawaz, PBS NewsHour – heading home (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Presidential hopeful Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand took time off from the campaign trail to pitch for the Congressional women. Photo by Jeff Malet.
- Gretchen Frazee, PBS NewsHour – rounding third (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Emily Goodin, DailyMail.com (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Lisa Desjardins, PBS NewsHour tags out Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Gretchen Frazee, PBS NewsHour (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Event organizer Atalie Ebersole takes out the winning team ribbons.
- After the game, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) congratulates Mikayla Bouchard of The New York Times (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Bad News Babes celebrate their 10-4 win. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- The Bad News Babes celebrate their 10-4 win. Erica Hendry of PBS NewsHour holds the winners trophy. (photo by Jeff Malet)
- Erica R. Hendry, PBS NewsHour, takes the trophy to the after-party at the Samsung Executive Briefing Center. (photo by Jeff Malet)