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Article snippet: Democrats won the annual Congressional baseball game Thursday night, but this year the focus of the charity event had nothing to do with winners or losers. The game has been played almost every year since 1909, but Thursday’s contest held an extra layer of significance: A day earlier, a gunman had stalked the suburban baseball field where members of the Republican team were practicing. He fired a blizzard of rounds, hitting four people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). The tragic event hung like a cloud over the players and the crowd, which came out in record numbers in a show of solidarity, defiance and hope that Scalise’s road to full health will be swift and complete. Game organizers said nearly 25,000 people were in attendance, raising $1.5 million for local charities and the Capitol Police Memorial Fund. Those clouds were everywhere. Rep. MORE (R-Texas), who had injured an ankle at Wednesday’s practice racing away from the shooter, joined the lineup on crutches. And David Bailey, the Capitol Police officer injured in the exchange of bullets that left the assailant dead, threw out the first pitch. The crowd reacted with a roar. After the sides were introduced, Scalise’s name was announced, his image projected on the enormous screen looming over the buzzing crowd. The standing ovation was immediate — and lengthy — and the signs commemorating the injured majority whip came out in force. “Scalise Strong,” was the simple message on many of the... Link to the full article to read more