Washington, DC - For all the hoopla surrounding the Southampton varsity baseball team's run to the state quarterfinals this spring, it appears the Mariners' excellence has rubbed off on one of their alumni - Congressman Tim Bishop.

Wearing a Stony Brook uniform to represent the 1st Congressional District, Tim Bishop collected two hits on the day and earned co-MVP honors for the victorious Democrats.

In his fourth term as a representative of New York State, it's no wonder that the 1968 Southampton High graduate's athletic prowess hasn't made national news - that is until Wednesday when his night at the plate during the 48th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game earned him co-Most Valuable Player honors and a spot on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.

Donning a Stony Brook University uniform, the 59-year-old Bishop went 2 for 2 with a walk and two RBI in leading the Democrats to a 15-10 triumph over the Republicans as thousands of fans cheered on at Nationals Stadium in Washington. His second-inning double to left center field brought in two runs and allowed the Dems to reel in their first win in the series since 2000. Bishop's two-bagger kicked off the SportsCenter segment later Wednesday evening. It can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJn8akB1ULM.

"I was proud to help lead the Democrats to victory as a Seawolf and honored to be recognized by my teammates," Bishop said in a press release. "The Congressional Baseball Game is a great opportunity to bond with my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle and it's for a great cause."

The charity game raised more than $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and an adult literacy program.

Tim Bishop not only manned third base but also swatted a two-run double in the second inning to energize the Democrats.

Of Bishop's highlight hit, DCist.com commentator Josh Novikoff said, "It was a major league caliber hit on a night when merely putting the ball in play was enough to get the job done against infielders more adept at chairing committees than cleanly fielding groundballs."

Congressmen Michael Arcuri (Utica) and Anthony Weiner (Forest Hills) also suited up for the winning squad.