Chiefs’ Louis Rees-Zammit had never swung a softball bat. He called his shot on home run

Chiefs safety Justin Reid smiled and said he sensed “redemption.” On Thursday evening, the Kansas City Chiefs went from the football field to the softball diamond at the Kansas City Monarchs’ Legends Field, and all for a good cause: a charity softball game co-hosted by Reid and right guard Trey Smith.

Thursday’s game was the second iteration of the event. Last year’s game was hosted by former wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Both games saw the same showdown, offense vs. defense, in what looks to be a budding rivalry. Last year, with the help of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ offense decimated the defense in a 22-6 win. But this time, there was no Mahomes. The defense’s roster outnumbered the offense’s by eight. Reid predicted greatness and a “win — at all costs.” “Doesn’t matter if you gotta bite, claw, scratch, cheat,” Reid said, “whatever it takes, find a way.”

Players trickled toward the field — defense in white, offense in red. They signed seatbacks and a shining replica of the Lombardi Trophy. The skies were clear, and defense was up first to bat. Linebacker Drue Tranquill did not disappoint, crushing an early home run, while the offense went scoreless in the first. But the Chiefs’ offense didn’t make things easy — and it seemed to have a new star.

Louis Rees-Zammit (pronounced: lewis reese zammit, like ham-it), the Welsh-rugby-pro-turned-Chiefs-rookie, had only swung a cricket bat before stepping to the plate last night. But first he showed some verve. “Wait for this next shot,” Rees-Zammit told the crowd. Rees-Zammit then nailed his own sailing home run (one of three last night) over gloves in the outfield. He rounded the bases into a glorious red tunnel of teammates.