The game, played with rules from the 1860s, will start with the historic version of the National Anthem, sung by the Ohio Village Singers -- historic reenactors in full suits and long skirts. And this year, for the fourth year in a row, the Capitol Cannons, a bipartisan team of lawmakers from the House and Senate, will do their best against the Ohio Village Muffins.
It's not an easy game -- Democratic State Rep. Denise Driehaus of Cincinnati notes players don't use mitts and don't wear cleats.
"And in the outfield, as I recall, I slipped last year on my way to a fly ball," Driehaus said. "So that's been the most challenging thing for me to adjust to."
But the lawmakers say they're ready to win this time. Republican State Sen. Bill Coley of southwest Ohio says he's been watching tapes of the three previous matchups.
"Studying the moves that the Muffin -- how they deploy their outfield and infielders," Coley said. "And we're really coming up with a strategy to make sure the Cannons come out on top this year."
Coley predicts the Cannons will win by two. Each year the Cannons have lost, but have worked to narrow the margin by which the Muffins have beat them. In 2011, they lost 15-10. Last year the final was 6-0.
