Press Hits! Notch Epic Comeback Win in Staffer’s Going-Away Party
By Patrick Curran
Posted at 11:53 p.m. on May 24, 2012
Do you believe in miracles? The Press Hits! sure do.
Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) office softball team put up an unbelievable nine-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to knock off the Great Scotts of Sen. Scott Brown’s (R-Mass.) office, 14-13, on Thursday night.
There was no shortage of storylines in the Senate Softball League Division 3 game — liberal vs. conservative, New York vs. Massachusetts, veteran vs. newcomer — but the most entertaining one had little to do with traditional rivalries.
Thursday’s game was the last for Schumer press secretary and shortstop Matt House, who is leaving the Hill to work for the Democratic Party’s campaign office in Massachusetts — the same office that will look to unseat Brown this November. The Press Hits! bench, a combination of staffers from Schumer’s office and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, was essentially a raucous going-away party for House.
“I think it was more about savoring our last moments with House and having a good time,” teammate Grant Kerr said.
The game was a snoozer for much of the night. The teams started slow, combining for one run through the first three innings. Then the Great Scotts’ bats warmed up, and a homer from captain Matt St. Jean in the top of the fifth broke things open.
“They’re incredibly talented,” House said. “They were sharp at the bat, they played great out in the outfield. … [It was] a well-fought match.”
Schumer’s squad appeared to be dead in the water by the bottom of the seventh, staring down a 13-4 deficit with two outs. But as ominous storm clouds moved over the Mall, the Press Hits! put on their rally caps. A series of huge hits, combined with fielding errors by the Scotts, turned what should’ve been a resounding defeat into an emotional victory.
“They just got hot at the right time. We made a couple mistakes in the field. That happens, it’s baseball,” St. Jean said. “They’re from New York. … I’m not that thrilled about it, but you’ve got to move on, and maybe we’ll play them again.”
Kerr led the way for the Press Hits!, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run and two singles. For House, the win was the perfect way to kick off campaign season.
“What we did tonight is what’s going to happen in Massachusetts,” House said.
