Instead of suiting up in their usual business attire, Georgia lawmakers and their staff wore cleats and athletic wear for the General Assembly’s annual House vs. Senate kickball game on Tuesday.
Under the leadership and coaching of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the Senate came out asserting their dominance early on, holding a five-run lead in the fourth inning. House Speaker Jon Burns and his team adjusted their defense, substituting lawmakers and interns eager to turn the game’s tide.
The House’s morale noticeably changed after Rep. Kasey Carpenter managed to make it on base, sneaking past a toss to the Jones who was playing first base. This allowed the House to close the gap to only three runs in the fifth.
Flyouts led to the end of most innings, and the volunteer referees struggled to keep track of the outs because of the mulligans granted when both teams were caught with more than nine players on the field multiple times during the game.
A few playful arguments were had between the two chambers and the umpires, but sportsmanship prevailed through all the chaos. The House continued to pressure the Senators through the last two innings, but it wasn’t enough. The Senate defeated the House of Representatives with a score of 8-6 after seven innings.
After the game, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue presented the trophy to Jones. After handing the trophy to his team, Jones thanked Burns “for playing the same five guys all game long.”
