The San Quentin Hardtimers softball team ended their season with a win against the co-ed North Bay Bombers, 43-13.
The North Bay Bombers is made up of four women and six men, put together by Coach/Player Randy Ferino. The team even includes Pete, who used to work as a correctional officer in West Block. Many of the team members answered an invitation to play inmates in San Quentin that came out in the Marin Independent Journal and was also posted on Facebook.
“I saw the ad on Facebook and clicked it, thinking hell ya. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to play against Quentin inmates,” said Lindsey Sakasitz.
“Amazing, I can’t wait to come in here. More fun than leagues in the street,” added Courtney Jackson.
“We have to trust men society doesn’t. I was scared at first, being a girl, however, everybody is respectful,” said the excellent first base-woman, Lori Carter, who is a reporter for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
“It’s pretty cool to play here. I feel like there’s a lot of guys who are trying to change their lives. By the grace of God, I’m not inside these walls. So it’s cool to come carry the message that there’s a better way,” said Tracie Parker.
“They just want to play ball. Everyone thought it would be fun. They tried it, liked it and keep coming back,” said Ferino.
“It feels human” to play against a coed team, said Hardtimer Sandy “Rasheed” Lockhart. “I love that you guys aren’t afraid to come play us,” he told them.
The Bombers came in the Oct. 6 game, 0-4 this season against the Hardtimers. For the first time they had brand new blue and white, Dodger colored jerseys. “We got some new jerseys now. We hope they intimated them,” joked Ferino. The jerseys didn’t work, as the Hardtimers were able to win 46-13.
“We’re here to have fun. We only say that when we’re losing,” clowned Moses Ortega.
“It’s a good thing you can’t run,” joked Carter, after Hardtimer third baseman Mark Jordan hit a deep shot into left-field. The stocky Jordan laughed, as he only made it to first base, while a teammate who was on first made it home.
The women can really play. Sakasitz hit an in-the-park home run that brought in three runs at the top of the fifth inning. She went four for four at bat. Carter tagged several men out at first. Parker turned a single into a triple on an error and brought in a run, and Jackson brought in one run.
It wasn’t enough against the hot at bat Hardtimers, who had several rallies including two grand slams hit by John Windham. “We shall hang together or most assuredly we will hang separately,” said Coach Phil about the team effort win, quoting Benjamin Franklin.
