WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Daily Caller Expanded Universe Softball Team erased a two-run deficit in the final inning of Monday’s season opening contest in the Think Tank Softball League (TTSL) to defeat the Leadership Institute by a score of 9-6.
The Callers jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first four hitters of the game and held the Institute to just three runs for the majority of the contest. Former White House Correspondent Amber Duke and Interim Visiting Sporting Fellow Manfred Wendt played sound defense up the middle of the infield and Deputy Editor Dylan Housman struck out two to hold the Institute at bay. Additional defensive contributions came from Media Reporter Jason Cohen and Reporter Rob McGreevy in the corner outfield positions.
Down 6-4 in the top of the seventh with two outs, the @DailyCaller Expanded Universe team came back to win the first slow pitch game of the season 9-6!! Starting the season 1-0!! pic.twitter.com/JWmn4y7pDP
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) June 4, 2024
Clinging to a 4-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, the Callers surrendered three runs to go down 6-4, and all hope seemed lost. The bases were empty with the Caller down to their final out in the top of the 7th inning, when White House Correspondent Reagan Reese roped a single to left field to begin a two-out rally.
Two batters later, down two runs with two runners on base and two outs, Wendt crushed a Yuengling before launching a homer to left field to re-take the lead. Fact-checker Elias “Best Shape Of My Life” Atienza and Editor Luis “Hispanic Titanic” Ramirez continued the string of clutch hits before Housman tacked on an additional double to provide insurance, extending the lead to 9-6. The rally couldn’t have been possible without a 3-4 performance at the plate from Marketing Wizards Avery Long and Jess Embree to keep turning the lineup over.
The battle wasn’t over yet though, as the Institute was able to bring the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the 7th by loading the bases. The Callers escaped the jam, however, with quality defensive plays by Interim Visiting Sporting Fellow Jonah Wendt and Reese in left-center field. (RELATED: Daily Caller Gentrifies Urban Institute In March Toward Softball Playoffs)
The Callers begin the season 1-0, looking to return to their 2022 championship-winning ways after a one-run defeat in last year’s playoffs. They will take on the United States Institute of Peace next week.
