The Capitol press corps reclaimed their title at the Congressional Women’s Softball Game on Wednesday night, securing a 22-16 victory for the Bad News Babes. 

The women of Congress had been hoping to make it a streak after last year’s upset but ultimately fell short, despite solid hitting from the team of all-returning players. 

“They have some legitimately good players, the press — and they’re probably on average 15 years younger than us,” said Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D.

Even with votes canceled in the House for the rest of September and campaign season in full swing, lawmakers made their way back to Washington for the game at Audi Field. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., said she also put some meetings on the schedule while she was back in town. 

Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., was on the pitcher’s mound again, with the team’s longtime pitcher Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., hanging up her cleats a couple years ago. 

One change to the lineup? “We really toned down the trash talk against the press team this year because the press is under enough stress,” Castor said. 

It’s an annual tradition as the lawmakers and journalists face off in the charity game, which raises money for young adults with breast cancer. 

The high-scoring game heated up in the middle innings. What initially looked like a home run from Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds, the nonvoting delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands, was ultimately ruled a ground rule double as the ball rolled under the outfield fence. 

A big hit from Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., revived hope for the lawmakers, evening the score to 7-7 as the Bad News Babes went up to bat.

But a rejoinder from PBS News’ Gretchen Frazee put the Bad News Babes back in the lead, and from there it was mostly a rout, with the journalists running up the score. A late grand slam from Davids helped the lawmakers save face but wasn’t enough. 

“The score … I felt like didn’t reflect how competitive the game was, but I thought we played a great game and it was for a great cause,” Davids said. 

The press team has now won 11 of the last 16 games. Last year’s was cut short in the bottom of the fourth inning after lightning, ending the Bad News Babes’ two-year winning streak. 

Long held at a local elementary school and recreation center, the game is now in its second year under the bright lights of Audi Field, which can fit up to 20,000 people. On Wednesday night it was nowhere near full, but congressional staff and other supporters gathered to cheer on their bosses. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Reps. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., and Fedorchak boasted sizable fan sections. 

Schrier’s staff held up a large cutout of her head, with signs saying “SCHRIER is on FIRE” or “THE DOC IS IN.” Schrier is the first pediatrician to serve in Congress.

Capito was the only senator playing in this year’s game. Not on the roster but stopping by to cheer on the members’ team was Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., who played on the team during her time in the House. 

With both Democrats and Republicans on the same team, players describe the softball game as one of the few remaining bipartisan traditions in Congress still going strong. Organizers said that since the game began in 2009, it has raised more than $5.8 million, with this year raising more than $880,000 for the Young Survival Coalition. 

“Some of our fielding could have used a little extra work, but I think we never gave up,” Fedorchak said.