Rep. Cedric Richmond’s pitching proved too difficult to beat. Dems win big at Hill baseball game

Democrats thoroughly trounced Republicans in this year’s annual Congressional Baseball Game with a 22-0 shutout performance.

This year had been the GOP’s big chance to come away with a win after four years of Democratic domination. But even Freshman Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), a former college player, couldn’t help the Right pull ahead. The Republicans got just three hits off pitcher Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), compared with the Democrats’ 24.


“It is wonderful,” Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told POLITICO, referring to the game. “I think the Republicans are going to try to raise a lot of money to try to defeat Cedric Richmond.”

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The Republican fans and dugout remained subdued throughout the innings as the run gap widened, an atmosphere that contrasted with the team’s spark of optimism before the game.

“It’s time for us to win,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said on the field before the game.

Republican coach Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) joked with Boehner that he was the Speaker of the House—or the field— Thursday night. A win “would mean everything because it would mean the conservatives now besides having a role in America, now we have a role back on the baseball field,” Williams said.

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No such luck for the Republican team this year though. A combination of Richmond’s pitching and solid hitting from the Democrats proved too difficult to beat.

But Richmond wasn’t the only star of the night. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), the only female player in the game, stole the show. She had her first at-bat of the game in the bottom of the third and Democratic fans met her with a standing ovation, chanting “Let’s go Linda” throughout her time at the plate. Sánchez sent runners home in both of her turns at the plate, as well as made the final out of the game: a throw to first to seal the Democrats’ victory.

Sánchez discussed both the Democrats’ strengths as a team and the underlying inspiration for the annual partisan face off.

“We’ve got a cohesive team that’s ready to go out there and play their hearts out,” Sánchez said.

“But I think bottom line…we’re out here to raise money for some great charities that do some great things for kids in D.C.,” she continued. “As much as pride is on the line and they like to tease each other, I think everybody sees the bigger picture for what it is.”

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), manager of the Democratic team, announced after the game that the event raised more than $300,000 for its charities: The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation.