The San Quentin Hardtimers softball team put up a fight in its 25-19 loss to the outside Diego Boys team.
“We tried,” said Hardtimers outside Coach Rich.
It was a good try against the skilled group. “We enjoy playing against the S.Q. Hardtimers. They play as good as the players we play against on the street. We are part of an upper D-league team,” commented Diego Boys’ Coach Phil Martino.
The Diego Boys jumped out to a five-point lead in the first two innings, but the Hardtimers responded. Ronald Dalton Martin hit a lead off homer in the first inning and by the top of the third, the score was six to five.
After a home run by the Diego Boys’ Captain, the score was tied, six to six. Diego Boys threatened more runs, with a base hit by right fielder B. Rice and a line drive towards third by Squires, but Hardtimer third basemen Mark Jordan launched a double play, ending the inning.
The Hardtimers took the lead in the bottom of the third with a series of almost back-to-back base hits by Martin, Sandy “Rasheed” Lockheart, Otter Blake, Tim Fielder, Malcolm and Michael “Hawkeye” Flemming, leaving the score nine-six.
The Hardtimers posted great defense in the Aug. 2 game, thanks to players such as Mark Jordan, who triggered three double plays and threw out several batters. The team boosted its runs to 12, while holding the Diego Boys to one additional homerun by Schwedy.
In inning six, the Diego Boys rallied with 13 runs on errors, several base hits, a three-run homer by Diego Boy Bee and a grand slam by Demar, plus another home run hit by Schwedy, leaving the score 20-12, Deigo Boys.
The Hardtimers had almost no response, while the Diego Boys racked up five more runs to the Hardtimers one.
However, even with the score 25-13, the Hardtimers didn’t give up. Shon “Jahid” Ruffin led off the ninth inning with a base hit. John Windham followed up with another. Centerfielder Kelam got on base on an error, which brought home Ruffin’s pitch runner. Mario Ellis hit a double so deep it was almost a home run, which brought in Windham, although Kelam got thrown out at third, leaving the score 25-15 with one out and one man on base.
Then Jordan came up to bat. The normally great hitter was 0-4 at that point, but hit a double, bringing in Ellis. Martin followed with a double that brought in Jordan, leaving the score 25-17 with only one out.
Lockhart got a base hit on an error, bringing in Martin and leaving the score 25-18. Then Otter Blake hits a pop-up that was caught, making it two outs on the Hardtimers final chances at bat. Tim got a base hit, which brought in Lockhart, leaving the score 25-19. The amazing rally was stopped six points short on a shallow hit by Malcolm that got Blake thrown out at second.
–Ruben Harper contributed to this story
