Congressional Women’s Softball Game rises in popularity [Video]

“Beat cancer, beat Congress!” may be an unfamiliar chant to many, but it sounds like the press team’s version of “Play ball!” to the energetic crowd attending the annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game on Wednesday night.

The 16th annual matchup between women in Congress and the D.C. press stepped to the plate in front of a packed crowd lining every inch of the fence at Watkins Recreation Center.

Wednesday’s game brought in over 4,000 people. The number is impressive, though small compared to the large-scale Washington National stadium where the annual Congressional Baseball Game took place a few weeks ago and broke their attendance record, selling over 20,000 tickets.

Not only is there a significant variation in ticket sales between the two congressional games, but a broad change in scenery. According to a game attendee, Jessey Opfer, the intimate setting Wednesday displayed a sense of community incomparable to other congressional baseball games.

“That’s one of the reasons …