Press corps team beats lawmakers in annual charity softball game

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Wednesday, Washington lawmakers set aside politics for the annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game.

Congresswomen from both parties teamed up at Audi Field to take on Washington’s press corps.

“In this incredible time of anger and frustration at politics, all of us need to dive into doing things that we love to do and having some fun,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT).

The game started in 2009 and raises money for the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to helping young women battling breast cancer.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said the event has grown in meaning over the years.

“It started out fun, and it’s just continued to be fun, but now we’re really making a meaningful difference, raising money for a really great cause,” she said.

The event was first organized by Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz after a breast cancer diagnosis at age 41.

Balint said each player on the team represents a specific survivor.

“Everybody on the team is playing for a particular person, a particular survivor,” she explained. “It gives them a lot of hope knowing that those of us in Congress aren’t just thinking about it in terms of the legislation we need to pass, but to raise the attention and to use our platforms in order to raise money for a good cause.”

Now in its 18th year, lawmakers said the bipartisan nature of the game is what keeps them coming back.

“The camaraderie is really exceptional,” said Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR). “In this time where there’s so much partisanship, like getting out and playing softball, the women can put all that other stuff aside and actually just have a little bit of fun.”

Capito said the relationships formed through the game carry over into other work.

“Some people move on, some people become governors and other officeholders, so it really forms great relationships,” she continued. “It’s nice to meet other women leaders.”

“It’s really important, even in these really divided times, that we make an effort to do things together. That’s how you build trust, is doing stuff together,” added Balint. “It does translate when you are on a team with somebody in the morning, and then you’re in committee with them, and you already have something that you did together that day.”

This year, the “Bad News Babes” team, comprised of Washington media, beat Congress 22-16.

Since its inception, the event has raised $5.8 million for the Young Survival Coalition.