Archives for July 2016

By Marcus Henderson
Staff Writer
Actor and producer Casey Affleck’s Los Angeles Love baseball team fell to the San Quentin All-Stars in a double header 7-6 and 13-3.
In the first game, All-Star John “Dunnie” Windham smashed a walk-off grand slam home run to cap off a ninth-inning rally for the win.
“That was a profound baseball moment,” said David Gould, Loves’ Head Coach and player. “No lead is safe; you have to stay humble. You can’t get cocky.”
Windham added, “We never lost confidence. We believed we could win like this.”
L.A. Love is from the Beverly Hills Wood Bat League. The club was started seven years ago by Affleck and Gould. They have won a L.A. City Championship.
Affleck has appeared in such movies The Assassination of Jesse James, Ocean’s Eleven and in Good Will Hunting with his brother, Ben Affleck. He has a new movie, Manchester of the Sea, coming out in November.
“I learned a lot about life in here,” said Affleck. “People should be aware of what is going on; there is a need to prepare people to assimilate back into society.”
Affleck and Gould are working on a movie about the life of Earl Smith, who restarted the baseball program at Quentin.
“He has an inspirational life, and redemption through baseball it’s really an interesting story,” said Gould. “We all have a universal passion for the game.”
Down 6-1 in the ninth, All-Stars Joshua Burton and Cleo Cloman singled. Burton made it to third off of Cloman’s hit. He scored on a double steal with Cloman, catching the Love off guard. Two more singles and a walk set the stage for Windham.
“These guys are a real class act,” said Alex Ansolenga, Love catcher. “My perception about people in prison has changed. This experience has opened my eyes; especially the way all the guys accepted responsibility for what they’ve done.”
The Love put up three runs in the fifth. Ben Conely singled down the third base line and Boomer Wells hit a line drive double past center field for the score. Kody McCarty singled to bring in Wells. Patrick Kennedy got the RBI single for McCarty for the 6-1 lead.
The Love’s first three runs came as All-Star pitcher Jeff “Dewey” Dumont struggled at the mound. He walked in a run, and Taylor Ervin came in on a sacrifice fly in the first. Dumont closed the ending, striking out Affleck.
In the second, Love Pitcher Brian Nichols singled and stole second, and Ervin bought him home with a base hit.
“We struggled at first,” said Dumont. “It took me awhile to settle in, but it was gut check time in the ninth.”
Nichols added, “Being here is one of my most memorable moments. Baseball is beautiful whatever level you play it on.”
Nichols played in the minor leagues with the New York Mets from 1999–2001.
“These guys are competitive and respect the game,” said Nichols. “They didn’t disappoint; they made me work.”
Not only did the All-Stars batting came to life in both games, but they also made some spectacular defensive plays.
David Fairie was a one-man double play. He secured a ground ball, touched third base and from his knees threw the runner out at first.
“I love all this; it’s no looking back,” said Fairie. “We are all winners. I feel alive again; back in the SHU (Security Housing Unit) it’s like you’re dead. These guys inspire me to do better.”
Conley, of the Love added, “I’ve played in front of 8,000 people and this is right up there. The energy you feel when first come here is unique. I’m impressed with their pitcher professionalism.”
Conley also played in the minors.
The May 14 game had players bonding and reflecting.
“These guys surprised me. This let you know that more is going on behind bars,” said Love’s Jeff Pruitt. “As a Black man I could have been the ‘one-in-four’ in prison. I feel privileged.”
In the second game, the Love struggled at the mound and the All-Stars took advantage racking up the score.
“We are starting to gel and good teams have to have chemistry,” said Frankie Smith, All-Stars inmate Head Coach. “It’s a privilege that they came all this way; it’s a blessing.”

By Marcus Henderson
The visiting Sonoma Stompers semi-professional baseball team’s 16-0 win gave the San Quentin All-Stars a lesson in playing against pros. In addition, each team member saw the paths their life could have taken.
The Stompers first baseman, Daniel Baptista, pulled off a home run hat trick.
In the first inning, he smashed a homer over the Lower Yard right-field gate. In the third, he belted the ball over the left-field gate. Continuing to show his power, he wracked one over the center-field gate in the fourth.
“This is an experience you never forget,” said Baptista. “These guys are good competitors. You get to come here and see how some people got sucked into the street life.”
All-Star John Windham added, “I enjoyed the game. I got to see them do what I could have been doing, at their level and making the right choices.”
The Stompers took a quick 4-0 lead in the first.
Their quality pitchers Mike Jackson Jr., Greg Paulino and Jose Flores all threw in the ‘90s against the All-Stars.
Paulino came from the Dominican Republic and played in the minor leagues for the Oakland A’s. Jackson is the son of Mike Jackson Sr., who played 19 years in the majors and was a closer and relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants from 1992–1994.
“We came out to give the guys the competition they wanted,” said Jackson. “People shouldn’t worry about the stereotypes; get a feel for the people and enjoy the experience.”
All-Star Don Spence added, “I faced a major league pitcher. You see that type of pitching on TV all the time, but to be at the plate is amazing. It shows why they get the money they get to play; it’s no joke.”
Jeff “Deuy” Dumont, the All-Star pitcher, had a rougher outing; he hit three batters but struck out six.
The Stompers widened their lead 10-0 in the third with three doubles and two home runs. Mark Hurley hammered one over the left-field gate, right after Baptista.
“This was a special and eye-opening experience,” said Hurley. “These guys give us motivation. You have guys who have been down 20 or 30 years, and they’re not complaining; that’s life changing.”
Takashi “Yoshi” Miyoshi, the Stompers manager added, “We are honored to play here. I played all over the world, and this is a reminder for our players to have love for the game. Because playing on a professional level, it’s just about winning.”
Miyoshi is the first Japanese person to manage a professional baseball team in the U.S.
“My job is to prepare our talent for the majors,” said Miyoshi.
The All-Stars gave up three runs in the fourth and the sixth, ending any hopes of a comeback.
“We were short-handed,” said Isaiah Bonilla-Thompson, All-Stars assistant coach. “But what could you expect? We played professionals. We will live to fight another day.”
The May 28 game ended with the teams exchanging signed balls from each club.
“This game gives our guys perspective,” said Theo Fightmaster, Stompers General Manager. “A lot of people would like to be in their shoes. Last year’s game helped with our team chemistry, and this year we are looking for the same.
“It’s also a reminder that people here are real, live human beings.”
Stompers Cam Stimpson added, “I saw the CNN special before I came. It’s easy to lock people up, but a lot of these guys are following up with their rehabilitations. They are trying to turn their lives around, and that’s a good thing for society.”
Bob Padecky from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat came to witnesses the game.
He said what impressed him the most was that he asked a guy what’s so special about this field and the guy responded “I’m talking to you.”
“Then it hit me,” said Padecky. “We are just talking to people. This teaches you not to take life for granted or just don’t go stupid or you will be playing for the San Quentin A’s or Giants.”

By Marcus Henderson
Markelle Taylor broke the One-Hour Run record.
Taylor ran 9 and 15/16 miles, or 39 laps, beating the 2015 record set by Eddie Herena of 9 and 3/8 miles, or 37 laps.
“I dedicate this run to women and children who suffer from domestic abuse,” said Taylor. “I want to be a source of healing and peace for them.
“We should honor our victims and uplift the causes we believe in when we run.”
Taylorholds seven San Quentin 1000-Mile Club records and he set four this season.
The May 20race had 25 runners chasing their personal best.
Chris Sculls took second with 8 and 7/8 miles. Carlos Moreno and Herena came in third and fourth with 8 and 13/16 miles.
“This run was the opportunity for the guys to develop themselves for the coming marathon,” said Dylan Bowman, volunteer and lap counter. “This was their time to challenge themselves and own their craft; to constantly improve.”
Runner Bernard “Raheem” Ballard ran 7-3/16 milesfor 12th place.
“I will use this as a sp\ringboard to get back in shape,” Ballard said. “Being in the club is a release and a way to express myself. It provides an outlet to mingle with positive people.
“When people are doing positive things, positivity will rub off on you.”
First-time runner Michael Wilson came in last but pushed through with heart and determination.
“I set my mind to accomplish my goal. That’s with any thing in life, I’m not going to give up and persevere.”