NPC's Big Blue Softball wins a "nail-biter" over National Journal

The National Press Club Big Blue softball team is now 8-2 after splitting a doubleheader against the Washington Post and National Journal.

The first game went to the Post 15-7 despite the impressive pitching debut of Mike Diegel and three impressive catches by Staci Maiers in right-center field in her first appearance of the season. Ken Giglio and Clay Kaufman each had 3-run homers.

In the second game, NPC spotted Nat Journal a 10-0 lead after 2 ½ innings, before scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Entering the Press Club’s final at bat, National Journal held an 11-8 advantage. With two outs and one run in, Big Blue was down to its final out. Ted Costigan, Kyle McKinnon and Clay Kaufman each reached base safely, setting the stage for Derrick Gingery’s game-winning RBI. Press Club wins a nail-biter, 12-11.

Costigan, who was 5-for-7 on the day at the plate, came on in relief of Diegel in the second game, virtually shutting down the high-powered and youthful Nat Journal squad. McKinnon was 5-for-5 with 4 runs scored in both games while Sarahanne Driggs was 3-for-5 with a walk and a run scored.

Perhaps most impressive was the huge turnout of players once again for NPC. With many other teams scrambling to find players as the league enters the Dawg Days of June, Big Blue had six women show up along with 15 men. That kind of spirit and enthusiasm will come in handy next week, as NPC prepares to play a tripleheader against division opponents AP, Energy Now and Bloomberg on the same day as the NPC 5K event. The June 11th games will be at Layhill Local Park, starting at 10:15 am.