A walk off home-run by catcher Danny Schrader lifted the San Quentin Giants to a 12-11 victory over the San Quentin A’s in eight innings of baseball.
The score was tied up at the bottom of the last inning. When asked what the Giants were going to do to take the lead back, Coach Elliot Smith replied, “The first guy at bat is going to lead off with a homerun.” That’s exactly what Schrader did.
“I feel good about my performance, but it was a team win. Teams always win games,” said Schrader.
The game ended with only eight innings due to a deal to release the field to soccer players at 1 p.m. When the soccer teams arrived, the bottom of the eight had just began. The deal was extended to allow the players to finish the inning.
Early on, the Giants played from behind. The A’s led 4-2 at the top of the fifth. The Giants took the lead with a three-run homer by Schrader.
The Giants rallied again to increase their lead in the sixth inning. With two outs, Michael Tyler singled, followed by a Mark Jordan double that brought in one run, leaving the score at 7-4. Schrader had a base hit that advanced Jordan’s pitch runner to third. Christhoper Smith reached first on a Cleo Cloman error that also brought in a run, leaving the score 8-4. Ellis’ deep hit threaten to be a home run, but was caught by A’s center-fielder Otter Townes, ending the inning.
“Baseball, it’s up and down,” said A’s player Anthony Denard.
The A’s switched pitcher John Appley for Kelam to no avail. In the seven inning, the A’s got two runs, while the Giants got three more, leaving the score 11-6 Giants.
Down five at the top of the eighth, the A’s rallied back with a lead off base hit by center fielder Bilal Coleman and a double by Kelam, leaving runners on second and third. Then “Red,” who arrived late, came up to bat for the first time and hit a double with two RBIs.
“Just came off a visit for my anniversary. My wife, Mrs. Casey, got me hyped up,” Red said, explaining his success at the plate.
Next up was Cloman, who hit another double that brought in two runs, leaving the score 11-10, Giants.
The Giants switched out pitcher Jeff Dumont for Mario Ellis to finish the inning. Ellis didn’t give up any other runs, however, Cloman stole third and then stole home on an overthrow, tying the game 11-11. The inning ended with a pop-up out by Paul Alleyne, a base hit by Royce Rose and the striking out of Ruben Harper.
Then came Schrader with the walk-off game winning homer.
