Republican Roster

• By Nora Grenfell
• Roll Call Staff
• June 26, 2012, 2:11 p.m.

Rep. Lou Barletta (Pa.)

Outfield/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Hazleton
Hits S | Throws L | Votes R

Barletta once tried out for the Cincinnati Reds, and his team is hoping the Democrats’ lineup won’t be able to withstand his pitching arm. He’ll be wearing the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees uniform, No. 7.

Rep. Joe Barton (Texas)

Manager
Elected 1984
Home: Ennis
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Team manager Barton is keeping his strategy under wraps, but he guarantees that he has a few tricks up his No. 6 Texas Rangers sleeve. He did disclose one tactic: “We’re going to church regularly and praying.”

Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas)

Second Base
Elected 1996
Home: The Woodlands
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Brady captained a scrimmage team during the GOP practices, and the Republican Party is counting on him to get on base and make crucial plays from second. Brady will be sporting the uniform of the Rapid City, S.D., American Legion Post 22 team.

Rep. Mike Conaway (Texas)

First Base
Elected 2004
Home: Midland
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

The GOP’s first baseman is optimistic about his team’s chances going against the Democrats. As for his contribution, Conaway says, “I cheer well.” He’ll be wearing a No. 11 Texas Tech uniform.

Rep. Rick Crawford (Ark.)

Infield
Elected 2010
Home: Jonesboro
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

The Arkansas infielder is a jack-of-all-trades whose résumé includes service in the armed forces and working as a news anchor. He will be wearing a Crawford for Congress uniform, No. 12.

Rep. Jeff Denham (Calif.)

Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Atwater
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Denham makes his return to the game wearing the uniform of the Fresno State University Bulldogs.

Rep. Robert Dold (Ill.)

Shortstop
Elected 2010
Home: Kenilworth
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Dold, a former varsity college athlete, will be wearing the No. 12 jersey of the Chicago Cubs to represent his district.

Rep. Jeff Duncan (S.C.)

Utility
Elected 2010
Home: Laurens
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Duncan will be wearing the No. 3 uniform of the Clemson University Tigers, where he was a football player.

Rep. Jeff Flake (Ariz.)

Third Base
Elected 2000
Home: Mesa
Hits L | Throws R | Votes R

A Congressional baseball star, Flake is as focused on winning this party matchup as he is on getting elected to the Senate in November. “It’s time for revenge,” says Flake, who will be sporting the No. 6 jersey of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (Tenn.)

First Base/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Ooltewah
Hits L | Throws L | Votes R

Fleischmann is eager to make his return to the game after a photo of his play at second base landed on the front page of a national publication last year. “This is what’s great about America. Baseball is what’s great about America,” Fleischmann says. Look for him in a No. 3 University of Tennessee Volunteers uniform.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (Texas)

Outfield
Elected 2004
Home: Tyler
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Gohmert feels good about his team’s chances, especially because, he admits, “We really can’t do any worse than we did last year.” He’ll be in the gray of Texas A&M University, sporting No. 1 for his district.

Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.)

Outfield
Elected 2000
Home: Tarkio
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Look for Graves wearing the blue and white of the Kansas City Royals.

Rep. Bill Johnson (Ohio)

Catcher/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Marietta
Hits S | Throws R | Votes R

Johnson played baseball in high school and fast-pitch softball in the Air Force. “After 25 years out of the game, I haven’t struck out yet against these pitchers,” he says. The Democrats should watch out for Johnson’s curveball. He’ll be wearing the uniform of Marietta College.

Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.)

Third Base
Elected 1992
Home: Savannah
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

“After five nights of midnight Appropriations committees, you have nothing better to do than get up at 6 a.m. and see the guys you just said bye to, except they’re a bit uglier.” He’ll wear a Chain Baseball Academy uniform.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.)

Outfield/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Channahon
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Last year, Kinzinger opted out of the 7 a.m. practices, but this year he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to participate. “We’re all competitive by nature, so we’re going to compete our faces off,” the team’s youngest member says. He’ll be in the No. 7 jersey of Illinois State University.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.)

Utility
Elected 2002
Home: Livonia
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Sometimes found stretching his back (or just catching some rays) laid out on the field during practice, McCotter will be wearing the Detroit Tigers uniform, No. 10.

Rep. Patrick Meehan (Pa.)

Pitcher/Third Base
Elected 2010
Home: Drexel Hill
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Meehan, a lifelong baseball player and former Bowdoin College athlete, will be wearing the red and white No. 9 uniform of the Phillies.

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (S.C.)

Shortstop/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Indian Land
Hits L | Throws R | Votes R

Playing on a major league field is a dream come true for Mulvaney, who says he’s a Nationals fan. He’ll be in the uniform of Winthrop University, sporting No. 5 for his district.

Rep. Steven Palazzo (Miss.)

Utility
Elected 2010
Home: Biloxi
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Palazzo will be representing the Golden Eagles of his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where his preferred sport was intramural flag football. Last year, his 10-year-old son served as a bat boy while Palazzo was content to stay put on the bench.

Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.)

Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Bowling Green
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Paul’s father, Rep. Ron Paul, hit a rare over-the-fence home run. Even if he can’t replicate that, he knows his team has been training hard. “We’ve gone high-tech,” he says of the pitching machine used at practice. The team’s only Senator will be sporting the jersey of Western Kentucky University, No. 8.

Rep. Erik Paulsen (Minn.)

Right Field
Elected 2008
Home: Eden Prairie
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

His teammates chide him for having learned to catch a fly ball only just in time for this game. “My housemates force me out of bed at 6 a.m.,” Paulsen jokes. He’ll be wearing the Minnesota Twins, No. 3.

Rep. Steve Pearce (N.M.)

Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Hobbs
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

“We have the will to win,” says the right fielder. The Republicans are pinning their hopes on MVP Pearce’s hitting abilities, and to prepare he has been spending a lot of time in the batting cages. He’ll be wearing a maroon New Mexico State University uniform, No. 8.

Rep. Todd Platts (Pa.)

Catcher
Elected 2000
Home: York
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

The six-term Member is back for another round of bipartisan sportsmanship, and he’ll be sporting the No. 5 jersey from the York Revolution, an independent minor league team.

Rep. Tom Rooney (Fla.)

First Base
Elected 2008
Home: Tequesta
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Rooney’s family may own the Pittsburgh Steelers, but at this game he’ll be wearing the No. 16 uniform of the Charlotte Stone Crabs. The first baseman is looking for a chance to wear out Louisiana Democrat Cedric Richmond’s arm. “We just want to win so bad.”

Rep. Dennis Ross (Fla.)

Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Lakeland
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Ross, one of his team’s strongest hitters, will be wearing the No. 6 jersey of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rep. Steve Scalise (La.)

Second Base
Elected 2008
Home: Jefferson
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Wearing the No. 1 Nicholls State University uniform in honor of his district, Scalise is proud of the way the baseball game knits Members of Congress closer together. “We’re ready to go to the big league park,” says the four-year veteran of the game.

Rep. Austin Scott (Ga.)

Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Ashburn
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Scott will be in left field wearing the uniform of his son’s Little League team. “It’s a great opportunity to see Members of Congress of both parties working together to raise money for charity,” Scott says.

Rep. Tim Scott (S.C.)

Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Charleston
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Scott is one of many sophomores on the team. Look for him with No. 44 on his College of Charleston jersey.

Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas)

Third-Base Coach
Elected 1996
Home: Dallas
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

A lifelong Texan, Sessions is wearing No. 32 for his district in the uniform of the Texas Rangers.

Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.)

Pitcher
Elected 1996
Home: Collinsville
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Multiple-MVP winner Shimkus is a two-way threat, at bat and on the mound, and although he almost didn’t play this year, he is back on the diamond wearing a University of Illinois No. 19 jersey.

Rep. Bill Shuster (Pa.)

Outfield
Elected 2001
Home: Hollidaysburg
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

One of the team’s strongest hitters, Shuster will man right field wearing an Altoona Curve jersey.

Rep. Adrian Smith (Neb.)

Outfield
Elected 2006
Home: Gering
Hits L | Throws L | Votes R

This left-handed batter will be wearing a No. 3 Wayne State uniform.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman (Ind.)

Catcher/Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Howe
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Stutzman calls himself a “quarterback on the field.” The lifelong “student of the game” will be wearing a No. 3 Fort Wayne TinCaps jersey.

Rep. Daniel Webster (Fla.)

Pitcher
Elected 2010
Home: Orlando
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

This first-term Congressman has already cut his teeth on the field, and he’s back in the uniform of the University of North Florida, No. 8.

Rep. Rob Wittman (Va.)

Outfield
Elected 2007
Home: Montross
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Wittman has participated in every Congressional baseball matchup since he arrived on Capitol Hill. Look for him in the No. 8 jersey from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.

Rep. Steve Womack (Ark.)

Infield/Outfield
Elected 2010
Home: Rogers
Hits R | Throws R | Votes R

Womack is looking for action at the plate in his second appearance. “The first goal is don’t do anything embarrassing, then don’t get hurt,” he says. Womack will be wearing the uniform of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, No. 3.

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