Despite the shooting in Virginia, the congressional baseball game went on as planned Thursday evening.
Previous story: Kansas and Missouri legislators OK; react to shooting at congressional baseball practice A show of unity and strength a day after James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois opened fire at the Republican's early morning practice wounding Congressman Steven Scalise and three others including Capitol Police David bailey who threw the first pitch at Thursday's game alongside baseball legend Joe Torre.
Capitol Police Officer David Bailey -- wounded in yesterday's attack -- threw out tonight's first pitch. #CongressionalBaseballGame pic.twitter.com/68EpsNXFKM
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 16, 2017
Kansas representatives Roger Marshall and Kevin Yoder were on the roster.
A Jayhawk and a Wildcat - bipartisanship at its finest for the #CongressionalBaseballGame pic.twitter.com/eSJfbuwk0u
— Rep. Kevin Yoder (@RepKevinYoder) June 15, 2017
"I think it's just been a surreal atmosphere the last 24 hours, tonight was a great opportunity to come together, democrats and republicans -- hugging, people were crying, this tragedy, it brings people together," Rep. Kevin Yoder (R) Kansas told CNN in an interview after the game.
The game provided a brief reprieve from the criminal investigation underway hundreds of miles away at the shooter's home outside St. Louis, Missouri in Belleville, Illinois.
Thursday afternoon Hodgkinson's wife of thirty years said her husband sold almost everything and left for Washington to work with people to help change the tax brackets.
"I am sorry that he did this but there is nothing i can do about it," Sue Hodgkinson, the shooter's wife said.
Back at Nationals Stadium, this year's game drew a record breaking crowd--nearly 25,000--who wish Scalise a speedy recovery.
The Democrats won the game 11 to 2. But they did give the trophy to the Republicans to put in Scalise's office.
