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Sen Eric Schmitt preps for Congressional Baseball Game, hopes Trump could attend

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Sen Eric Schmitt preps for Congressional Baseball Game, hopes Trump could attend

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The schedule of the average congressional lawmaker is usually packed with meetings, hearings, television appearances and more. 

However, some have June 11 circled on the calendar this year.

It is the time when any bad blood between Republicans and Democrats can go from the steps of Capitol Hill to the dirt and green grass at Nationals Park – the home of MLB’s Washington Nationals.

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Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) rounds the bases during the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park on June 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The Congressional Baseball Game is an annual event that pits the Republican and Democratic members of the House of Representatives and the Senate against each other on the diamond. The game has been played since 1909, when the Democrats defeated the Republicans 26-16. It has been played each year since then – aside from a handful of cancellations.

The Republicans hold the series lead and are on a four-game winning streak. GOP lawmakers won last year’s game, 31-11.

The game is something Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., looks forward to each year. Schmitt is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and played baseball at Truman State University. Schmitt released a sizzle reel before last year’s game and ended up having a few big hits in the blowout win.

“I feel good,” Schmitt told Fox News Digital ahead of the game. “We’ve got a good team and our coach, Roger Williams, gets us out there in the mornings pretty early for practices. So we’ve been out there sort of getting your timing back, taking fly balls. But there’s no substitute. The game, being in a Major League stadium with 30,000 people there, it’s for a great cause, has been a lot of fun. 

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“So, I enjoy it. I was joking with one of the other outfielders last year. I was like, ‘This is what I really wanted to do with my life – be in the Major League outfield for the Cardinals’ – but I ended up in the Senate. We get to do this once a year. It’s a lot of fun.”

Schmitt said the “most important thing” is winning the game and not breaking the scoring record which Democrats set in 1928, when they scored 36 runs in the game. 

One of the key aspects of the game is the charity component. Both sides of the aisle raise money for Congressional Sports for Charity, which “provides support to worthy and effective charities serving vulnerable children and families in the Washington DC area as well as scholarships to deserving local youth,” according to the game’s website.

Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) celebrate with Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) during the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park on June 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

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“These charities include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Philanthropies along with the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund in gratitude to the brave officers at the Republican practice shooting on June 14, 2017,” the website said.

“My family comes in town. Our whole office is there. So, it’s a blast,” Schmitt said. “I think already this year they’re up to $2.8 million raised for local charities here. So, it’s a great cause and it’s a lot of fun and has become kind of a social thing for staff and others to go to the game. But for me, you get on that field, and you want to perform, and that’s a lot of fun.”

Presidents have been known to attend the game. 

President Woodrow Wilson threw out the first pitch twice in the 1917 game as Clark Griffiths was unable to catch the ball. He also tossed the ball to a House rep in 1918. President Barack Obama attended the game in 2015, and President Joe Biden was there in 2021.

It is unclear if President Donald Trump will show up, but Schmitt was in favor of having him there.

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“That’d be great. I don’t know if it’s on his calendar or not, or my friend (Vice President) JD Vance, I think it would be great to have him there,” Schmitt told Fox News Digital. “The first two years I played in the game, Biden was president. He was, you know, it’s a little different story there, but I would love to have President Trump there.

“I’ve actually gotten to play golf with President Trump. He knows a lot about sports. In fact, on Trump Force One and some of the campaign stops, we would have conversations about the greatest right-handed hitter of all time. Of course, my pick was Albert Pujols. But he knows his sports, and it’s a lot of fun kinda talking sports with him.”

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., delivers remarks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the expected nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Jack Gruber-USA TODAY)

Schmitt joked he did show the president a few highlights from the Congressional Baseball Game.

The teams for the Republicans and Democrats are set. Schmitt is one of four senators playing in the game.

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Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, will compete with Schmitt.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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South Dakota

SculptureTour Salina Began with Trip to South Dakota

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SculptureTour Salina Began with Trip to South Dakota


Nearly twenty years ago it started with a journey to Sioux Falls, SD to look for ideas there – to bring back to Salina.

Current Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock was part of the tour group searching for a creative connection to borrow.

 

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This weekend SculptureTour Salina will unveil the new 2026 exhibit during the UNwrap Party on Saturday, May 2nd.

According to Visit Salina, the 24 new sculptures will be simultaneously unwrapped at precisely 11:00 am. Everyone is encouraged to bring family and friends and come downtown for the big reveal.

Everyone is encouraged to vote for the People’s Choice. Pick up a Walking Tour/Ballot from: One of the silver boxes at the mid-block pedestrian crossings on Santa Fe, or one of many of the downtown merchants

You can vote for your favorite piece and return your ballot to one of the silver boxes.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin secures 11th commitment from three-star defensive lineman

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Wisconsin secures 11th commitment from three-star defensive lineman


The Wisconsin Badgers seemingly can’t miss as they just landed their 11th commitment in the class of 2027.

After missing out on a three-star defensive lineman yesterday, Luke Fickell secured a priority target as Connecticut native Will Zaccagnino officially committed to the Badgers.

“I have been looking forward to this moment for a while,” Zaccagnino wrote. “First I thank God for the opportunities and my family, coaches and teammates for their support.

He continued, “I’m also grateful to every program and coach that recruited me through this amazing process. I am very excited to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin! I’m home!!!”

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247Sports lists Zaccagnino as the No. 3 player in his state. Overall, he hovers around the top 100 defensive lineman when it comes to players in the class of 2027.

May 29 marks Zaccagnino’s official visit with the Badgers. Currently, he still has visits lined up through June 19 with Syracuse, UConn, Missouri, and Michigan State.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.





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Detroit, MI

Mailbag: Did Detroit Lions’ draft hint at defensive scheme changes?

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Mailbag: Did Detroit Lions’ draft hint at defensive scheme changes?


The Detroit Lions defense needed some serious changes this offseason after the team’s efficiency dropped from the seventh-best scoring defense to 22nd in 2025. Detroit promised to look at everything, and while a complete overhaul of the scheme they’ve been using since 2021 was always unlikely, coaches have promised that they will tweak the system to fit the talent of their players.

Last weekend, the Lions drafted defensive players with five of their seven selections, showcasing that they need there was a talent deficiency on that side of the ball. But can their specific picks tell us anything about the strategic, schematic, or philosophical tweaks they are making to the team?

On one hand, all you have to do is look at the pure numbers of players at each position to suggest there may be some personnel changes in 2026. The Lions played more based defense (three linebacker sets) than anyone in 2025, but if you look at their depth chart right now (including the Lions’ two signings on Wednedsay), Detroit only has eight linebackers (including reported UDFA signing Erick Hunter) compared to 16 defensive backs. Detroit has several members of the secondary who can play in the slot, so is this a sign they plan on playing more nickel in 2026?

Additionally, the players they added to the defensive line seem to bring more pass rush juice than run stuffing. And Detroit has yet to really add a nose tackle to replace the likes DJ Reader or Roy Lopez. Has the team quietly admitted they’ve relied too much on stopping the run and need to tilt the scales a little more toward rushing the passer?

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Or we could take things even further. With no true nose tackle, but several movable parts on the interior defensive line, could we see the Lions move to a 3-4 base defense? Given how much we’ve seen Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, and rookie Derrick Moore play as a stand-up defensive end, Detroit would certainly have the personnel to make a change like that, especially considering it would only require two true off-ball linebackers. But is that too drastic of a change?

Erik Schlitt and I discuss that and a whole lot more in this week’s episode of the Midweek Mailbag. Other questions this week include:

Check out the full episode of the Midweek Mailbag on your favorite podcasting platform or just use the Spotify embed below.

Or if you’d prefer the video version of the show, it’s available on our YouTube page and Twitch Channel. And don’t forget to subscribe and set up notification so you can catch us live!



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