Democrats win congressional charity baseball game
WASHINGTON (WPVI) -- An act of violence that could have further divided the country, brought so many people together in a stand against violence, hate, and fear.
It was packed at Nationals Park Thursday night in Washington, D.C. The attendance far exceeding what anyone could have imagined.
It was an emotional start, a prayer for those injured in Wednesday's mass shooting, and a standing ovation, for the first pitch thrown out by Agent David Bailey who was one of the wounded.
GOP House Whip Steve Scalise faces a "much more difficult" struggle to recover from his gunshot wound than first thought, President Donald Trump said Thursday.
The gunman, James Hodgkinson of Illinois, was killed in a shootout with Capitol Police.
RELATED: VIDEO shows shooting at congressional baseball practice
The charity baseball games is a tradition dating back more than 100 years.
Republican Rep. Ryan Costello of West Chester said, "We have to pray for a full recovery for everybody."
The shooting was top of the mind for all the congressional members... especially Rep. Costello, who stole home, but it was Wednesday when he missed practice that he potentially ran away with his life.
He said, "Would have been at short stop, the shooter was here. It was 40 feet away, and the last day and half has been very difficult relations how different my life could be if I'd be living."
Police presence was stepped up at the game as murmurs began about whether all Congressmen should have security. It was Congressman Scalise's police detail that shot the gunman dead.
Democrat Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania's 13th District said, "Thank God for the Capitol Police, and their heroism and bravery which prevented a massacre."
And while the President didn't attend the bipartisan baseball match, he echoed the sentiments of the men and women who came together here tonight.
"By playing tonight you are showing the world that we will not be intimidated by threats, acts of violence or assaults on democracy, the game will go on," President Trump said.
And so it did, with Republican sitting next to Democrat, all putting their differences aside not just for the night, but for a show of unity that reaches way beyond this moment.
Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of the Pennsylvania 8th District said, "When there is tragedy, you have to turn it into triumph, and you don't cower to fear, you look fear in the eye and you one better it, and that is what we are doing tonight. We are not afraid."
Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia said, "We can't give up. We have to be optimistic, we have to have hope."
RELATED: 2 local reps missed being at shooting scene
The game is expected to pull in over a million dollars for charity, including the Capitol Police Memorial Fund.
And while both sides of the aisle were coming together tonight, there was a friendly competition going on. The two teams were tied 39 to 39 going into this game, and the democrats pulled out the win.
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