San Quentin Giants hosted the Oakland Ballers, 2025 Pioneer League champions, for the first time. To show appreciation for a special day of SQ baseball, Master of Ceremony Jamal Harrison played music while announcing the game. A bigger than usual gathering of residents showed up to watch the talented professional players.
Aaron Miles, manager of the Oakland Ballers, played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the early 2000s. Miles played with Albert Pujols and together they won a championship ring in 2006, achieving the highest honor in baseball. In 2025 he led his team to a Pioneer League championship, winning 73 games in a 96 game season.
Miles threw the ceremonial pitch, wearing both of his championship rings for the event, one on each hand.
“The personal gratification of last year is something I can’t explain, the journey was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I’ll probably be remembered more for the St. Louis ring. I spent my whole life trying to be a major league player, but the Oakland Ballers ring was a very close second,” Miles said.
The Pioneer League consists of 12 teams throughout Utah, Idaho, Montana and California. The league plays a 96 game season that runs from May through September.
Before the game started SQ resident artist Greg Stephens presented the Oakland Ballers with a custom drawn piece of art titled Razor Wire Classic. It had representations of both San Quentin and Oakland culture.
“Baseball was the first sport I played. When I was young I used to flip through the posters at the card shop. Different stadiums are known by the wall on the outfield, like the Green Monster at Fenway Park. I thought about our outfield and all you see is razor wire; that’s where I got the idea,” Stephens said.
In the first inning SQ Giants faced starting pitcher Nick Bautista, who throws up to 94 mph and consistently pitches in the high 80s to low 90s. Bautista spent time in the minor leagues with both the New York Mets and Texas Rangers.
“Honestly, I expected this sort of environment. My pops was in prison, so I’ve been in these settings before. Being in the center of it is cool, it’s dope. Everyone expects everybody in here to be bad guys and it’s not like that,” Bautista said.
In the first inning SQ Giants had trouble adjusting to Bautista’s speed and went three and out, followed up with the Ballers scoring two runs in the first. The Ballers only allowed three hits on the day, setting the stage for a SQ Giants loss.
SQ Giants Patrick Poteat pitched two innings without giving up any hits, no runs, with one strike out on six at bats, holding his own against the professional players.
”To be able to pitch against a professional team and put up two hitless, scoreless innings, makes me feel proud of the work I’m putting in, and of my coaches confidence in my ability,” Poteat said.
Second year Oakland Baller player Tremayne Cobb Jr. was the lead-off batter in the team’s 2025 championship run. Cobb said coming to San Quentin to play baseball wasn’t something he ever imagined doing.
“I just didn’t know it would be so laid back, it’s good to see they give other avenues to help people out. One guy was telling me about getting his trucking license. When we won the championship fire trucks sprayed water, we all got under the water. We barely lost last year,” Cobb said.
Tyler Petersen, Oakland Ballers team broadcaster/assistant manager and talent scout, said they like to find local players, roughly one third of the team is from Northern California.
According to Petersen six former Ballers have made it to the minor leagues. Danny Kirwin was picked up by the Red Sox, Tyler Davis played one season, but after two weeks the Chicago White Sox picked him up. Peterson said their main rival now is the Yuba City Highwheelers.
“I think we could see two or three of our guys make it up to the next level. I feel half of our guys have the talent, but there are only so many opportunities. Every year we have open try outs,” Petersen said.
Jim Dedrick, pitching coach for the Ballers, said the competition here at San Quentin is better than he thought it would be.
“I can feel the intensity from your hitters. This is a chance for them to see what they can do against really good players,” Dedrick said.
Mark Kahn, Oakland Ballers general counsel and public address announcer, has been with the club since the 2024 inaugural season.
According to Kahn the owners of the Oakland Ballers, Brian Carmel and Paul Freedman, who both went to high school in Oakland, started the team because the Oakland Athletics were leaving town and they didn’t want baseball to disappear in their city. The Oakland Ballers are beginning their third season with an off schedule win against the SQ Giants, 8-0.
SQ Giant Anthony Denard began playing baseball when he was a young boy. Denard eventually played at Laney Junior College and was drafted in 1996 by the Minnesota Twins, then in 1997 he was picked up by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Denard said he saw himself in the young upcoming players.
“I was reflecting back on the age the young players were, that’s when I got locked up. It hit home because it was something I strived for and never got,” Denard said.
SQ Giants season is off to a slow start, one win, three losses and a tie.
