A houseful of fans came out to Watkins Recreation Center 420 12th St. SE) right here on Capitol Hill to cheer on the eleventh annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game.
The game directly benefits the Young Survival Coalition, and raised over $365,000 –a new record –to benefit young women with breast cancer.
The game marked the first time a candidate for the presidential nomination, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) played in the game. Gillibrand, who lives near Watkins while in DC, pitched for the Members of Congress.
I met my presidential candidate, @SenGillibrand tonight for like the 10th time tbh. Thank you for being #Brave and paving an even wider path for us women who want to do what you’re doing. Thanks for a great evening, @CWSoftballGame #CWSG2019 #CWSG #KirstenGillibrand #Kirsten2020 pic.twitter.com/e5nzFQ86lX
— Kayla Johns (@kjohns1926) June 20, 2019
Summer tradition: Congressional Women’s Softball Game.
Watching @SenGillibrand throw heat from the mound. ???#CWSG pic.twitter.com/wYaJfemEok
— Charlotte Clymer?️? (@cmclymer) June 20, 2019
After seven hard-fought innings, the press squad Bad News Babes pulled off a 10-4 victory, their fourth in succession at CWSG. This year’s MVPs were Gretchen Frazee of PBS, a rookie on the Bad News Babes, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. VA), a captain of the Members Team. Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) won the Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Spirit Award. The Most Improved Awards went to Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and DailyMail.com’s Emily Goodin.
I had a blast at my first @CWSoftballGame last night! And was honored to take home Most Improved Player. Next year…MVP! #CWSG pic.twitter.com/xBvloIMX9r
— Rep. Kim Schrier (@RepKimSchrier) June 20, 2019
“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 – to raise money for young women battling cancer,” said Congressional Women’s Softball Game President and Treasurer Atalie Ebersole. “Thank you to all of the players and fans who came out to support the eleventh annual game. This game — and our donation to the Young Survival Coalition — would not be possible without you.”
Laira Roth of the DC Breasties, Tracy Reiner star of 1992 baseball film A League of Their Own and) and Virginia Manina of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League threw out the first pitch to fire up the crowd. Megan Cavanagh, also an actor featured in A League of Their Own, sang the National Anthem.
With this year’s game, the Congressional Women’s Softball Game has raised over $1.6 million in totality for the Young Survival Coalition.
YSC’s core mission is to benefit young adults under 40 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Representatives said it was their mission that provided a reason for press and Congress come together each summer, and that they are proud to continue supporting them year after year.
