Congressional Baseball Game goes on with Rep. Jared Huffman at third

Democrat and Republican lawmakers will meet tonight in a rare bipartisan exercise, even though they are literally playing hardball.

First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET for the 80th annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park, played with unusual emotion a day after the wounding of Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, and three others during a Republican team practice.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said in an email as he was leaving for the stadium that the Democrats would start out “wearing LSU hats for our friend Steve Scalise,” referring to his alma mater, Louisiana State University, which happens to be playing in the College World Series starting on Saturday.

Huffman, a lanky former All-American volleyball player at UC Santa Barbara and USA Volleyball Team member, is playing third base and batting second for the Democrats.

Scalise, who was shot in the left hip, was in critical condition Thursday at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The third ranking member of the House Republican leadership, Scalise had been an avid player since his election to Congress in 2008.

“The game will go on, D’s v. R’s, as it has for almost a century,” Huffman said. “It will be a very friendly rivalry.”

The interparty baseball game dates back to 1909, but missed numerous years due to the Great Depression, World War II and - you guessed it - political gamesmanship.

Tonight’s game comes at a time of escalating partisan rancor on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation.

“This will send a great message,” Huffman said. “I think Dems will win the baseball game, but I think everyone wins tonight.”

For the record, the series is tied at 39 wins for each party, plus a tie in 1983.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 707-521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @guykovner.