The semi-pro Sonoma Stompers put on a baseball clinic for the San Quentin All- Stars, pounding them 11-0.
“Their pitchers came out throwing heat. They were unhittable. The All-Stars did have pretty good defense. We just haven’t seen a team of this caliber all season,” said Michael “Sparky” Lain, the Giants’ statistician.
The All-Stars were selected from the S.Q. A’s and Giants rosters to face the Stompers, a team in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs.
“I have a 92-mile-an-hour fast ball,” commented Stompers pitcher Mark Jackson. “Today I threw a lot of junk: curve balls and sliders.
“I was nervous at first, coming to play in a prison. Everyone is so cool, so I calmed down and got into the competition. It’s an experience. I’m loving this; I might not be able to do this again.”
Sean Bison, Stompers assistant general manager, said, “We sign people from different colleges and semi-pro teams. We signed Gregory Paulino; he throws 89-90-miles- an-hour.”
Paulino is from the Dominican Republic and played for an Oakland A’s farm team before he injured his arm.
He closed the game for the Stompers.
John Appley, Giants All-Star, said, “It’s challenging to go up against that type of pitching. To play a semi-pro team was everything I expected.”
The May 28 game was a part of the Stompers’ spring training.
A crowd of about 30 gathered to cheered and boo almost every play.
“Baseball helps you deal with failure. It’s about perception. Like, I think this game benefits us more. It lets our guys know that baseball is more then just business. It’s about passion, and playing you guys (All-Stars) shows them that,” said Stompers general manager Theo Fightmaster.
The All-Stars pitchers faced some big hitters.
“I led our league in home runs and RBIs last season. Different pitchers throw you different looks. So you learn how to hit at different speeds. The main thing: always be at your best; you don’t know who’s watching,” said Joel Carranza, Stompers first baseman.
The only one to hit a home run was Stomper Andrew Parker.
He belted A’s Chris Marshall’s pitch deep over the center field gate.
“It’s a pleasure to face those guys. They are professionals, and we got a chance to play them in prison. You don’t get that anywhere else,” said Marshall.
