(At left, Steve Sundquist, who hit a home run just before we left for breaking news, with Tom Rasmussen and Tim Burgess)
5:13 PM: Exactly one month till the primary election – but the challengers-vs.-incumbents match that just got under way here at Lincoln Park may be even more of a thriller – mostly because of the weather; it began just as the downpour hit (and now, a bit of sun).

(Video added, game’s start during the aforementioned downpour)
Back at their endorsements meeting, the 34th District Democrats publicly invited just about every politician in the room to come join in a softball game at their annual picnic – and most if not all of them accepted. Officeholders we’ve seen include five Seattle City Councilmembers (Tim Burgess, Sally Clark, Jean Godden, Bruce Harrell, Tom Rasmussen), two U.S. Reps. (governor candidate Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott), State Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and School Board member Steve Sundquist; candidates include Diana Toledo from the King County Council Position 8 race; Maurice Classen, Bobby Forch, Michael Taylor-Judd, Brad Meacham from City Council races, and pro/anti Referendum 1 (tunnel) reps.

7:56 PM: Finally got a chance to add some of our photos – after the jump (PLUS – added 1:48 am Sunday – game recap courtesy of Michael Heavey):

Challengers won 13-11 (details at the end of the story); We’re still looking for the score … but in the meantime, here are some scenes from the field. First, governor candidate U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, with former legislator Georgette Valle and 34th DDs’ Karl de Jong (who announced the game, and we hope to add some video later as proof):

The other Congressman who showed up – Jim McDermott:

Up from Burien, 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon:

On the field during practice, City Councilmembers Sally Clark and Bruce Harrell:

Ready to catch, it’s County Council candidate Diana Toledo:

Also from the County Council Position 8 race, incumbent Joe McDermott:

Back to the City Council – the incumbent who’s drawn the most challengers, Jean Godden, brought pom-poms:

At his home field, Position 1 contender Michael Taylor-Judd of West Seattle:

Also from the Pos. 1 race, Bobby Forch:

And filling out the Pos. 1 field, Maurice Classen:

State Rep. Eileen Cody and 34th District Dems’ Sabra Schneider:

We’ll be checking our video later (and may have a few more pix to add). And hopefully somebody who was there till the end will share the score! Meantime, the 34th District Democrats’ next meeting is 7 pm August 10th, The Hall at Fauntleroy, and their fundraising Garden Party is set for August 19th – details here. You can also look for their table at White Center Jubilee Days’ Street Fair tomorrow, if you need to register to vote.

ADDED 1:48 AM SUNDAY: Michael Heavey‘s recap of the game:

In the early stages of the contest, the incumbents dominated game play- largely benefiting from key pinch hits from Congressmen Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott. The challengers offense was stymied at the hands of sharp infield play led by incumbents’ pitcher Sally Clark. The incumbent rallied on deep homers by Bruce Harrell and by miscues by the challenger’s defense. As the game settled in the challengers grew more comfortable on defense and began to retire the incumbents in more regular fashion. The game momentum shifted after the challengers benefited from not one, but two donations to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks.

First, a donation was made so that the challengers could net two runs per one crossing the plate for the length of the bottom half of the 5th. At the time they were trailing 1-11. Three runners came across in the inning to make the score 7-11. In the sixth inning the incumbent’s team offered a challenge to the audience, if they could match their donation of $140 then the bottom of the 6th would be the last a bat for the challengers team. In the spirit of the 115-win 2001 Mariners, whom were being honored at the same time at Safeco Field, the challengers embraced “the two outs, so what?!” mantra and came back to win with a walk off 3-run homer by an unnamed substitute. Unfortunately for the incumbents, the crowd match their generous donation and eliminated the 7th inning which could have served as an opportunity to ultimately retake the lead- embracing their new mantra, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Because of the generosity of the players and spectators, the event raised $400. It will be split between the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. Our organization is proud to support the community we love to call home! Thanks for everyone coming on out to the ballpark!

Official Lineups:

Congressman Jay Inslee PH 1-1
Congressman Jim McDermott PH 1-1 RBI
Councilmember Sally Clark 3K 0 ER
Councilmember Tim Burgess 5R
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen 2-4
Councilmember Bruce Harrell HR & .750 Slugging %
State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon 2 R
State Representative David Upthegrove 99% accuracy
Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton RBI in 1 AB
School Board member Steve Sundquist 4-4, 1 HR

“Protect Seattle Now” Campaign Manager Ester Handy 2-4
“Moving Seattle Forward” Campaign Manager Dan Nolte 2-4 no E’s
City Council Candidate Maurice Classen 3-4 2 RBI
City Council Candidate Bobby Forch 2-4 3 RBI
City Council Candidate Michael Taylor-Judd 1-4 2 DP’s
City Council Candidate Brad Meacham 1-4 Key Late RBI’s
School Board Candidate Marty McLaren 4 assists
King County Council Candidate Diana Toledo 2-4 2 RBI
Michael Maddux 0 ER

Duration: 1:15
Attendance: 150
Location Lincoln Park Field #3