WASHINGTON–After weeks of 7 a.m. practices and outings at the batting cages, my team, the Bad News Babes, faces off against members of Congress tonight; the battle a benefit for the Young Survival Coalition, a group helping young women battle breast cancer.
The Bad News Babes won the Congressional Women’s Softball game last year and the lawmakers–Republicans and Democrats from the House and Senate–think they have a chance this time. Among their new recruits are two Illinois freshmen Democrats, Rep. Cheri Bustos and Rep. Robin Kelly.
This is my third year on the team; I’ll be in right field. For those in D.C. come on over to Watkins Field at 7 p.m. Among my team mates: the pride of Barrington High School, Amy Walters of the Cook Report.
Bustos, a shortstop will be the freshman to watch tonight, according to the scouting reports. (Yes, we take this very seriously.) She is a member of the Illinois College Sports Hall of Fame.
Kelly will be in the outfield; she played on a softball team in Peoria, where she attended Bradley.
Below, the rosters….
DC PRESS CORPS (aka Bad News Babes)
Jill Agostino, New York Times
Dana Bash, CNN*
Christina Bellantoni, PBS NewsHour
Jennifer Bendery, Huffington Post
Carrie Budoff Brown, Politico*
Leigh Ann Caldwell, Freelance Political Reporter
Lisa Desjardins, CNN
Elise Foley, Huffington Post
Caroline Horn, CBS News
Emmarie Huetteman, New York Times
Caitlin Huey-Burns, Real Clear Politics
Kasie Hunt, NBC
Jill Jackson, CBS News
Brianna Keilar, CNN**
Tamara Keith, NPR
Jackie Kucinich, Washington Post
Abby Livingston, Roll Call**
Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times
Shawna Thomas, NBC News
Amy Walter, Cook Report**
Kristen Welker, NBC
Coaches
Dave Espo, Associated Press
Carl Hulse, New York Times
Frank Thorp, NBC
CONGRESS ROSTER
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)**
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN)
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)**
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)**
Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ)
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD)
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-CA)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)**
** Captains
Lynn Sweet at softball practice getting ready to beat the Congressional Women’s team. (photos by Shawna Thomas)
