The San Quentin All-Stars baseball team defeated the visiting Sacramento Generals in a wild 16-14 game.
After posting a month-long losing streak, the All-Stars came out focused and took a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Generals pitcher Kyle Churchill walked the first two batters, setting up All-Star Anthony Denard, who sliced a line drive to deep center field for a triple, scoring both runners.
“I just relaxed and let the game come to me,” said Denard. “Interacting with people from outside prepares you to go home to your family and the community,” he observed, adding, “With change comes growth, and with growth comes accountability. We want to prevent others from making the same mistakes.”
Churchill walked All-Star Paul “Moose” Crowder. Then Angelo Mecchi smacked a two-run single down the right field line.
Churchill walked the next four batters for a run before he was relieved.
“This game teaches you patience and humbles you,” said Churchill. “Everybody plays to win and I think this sport can unite us.”
Generals pitcher Greg Aikins came in and worked his team out of the inning.
The Generals opened the top of the second with a rally for the 8-5 lead.
Generals James Zavala, Jurg Ramel and Churchill all singled. Alan Van Ness smashed a line drive to right field for a double and two RBIs.
All-Stars pitcher Isaiah Bonilla-Thompson walked the next batter and Eric Guiment stepped to the plate and whacked a double for two RBIs.
Alex Zavala, Spencer Dean and J. Zavala all singled in runs.
“This game benefits both sides,” said Guimont. “It’s overwhelming going through the whole process, but the guys here put you at ease.”
Bonilla-Thompson settled down and got out of the inning with a strikeout.
“It was good to get my first start of the season,” said Bonilla-Thompson. “I knew I had to lead by example. I gave up some runs, but our defense made some plays and that allowed me to relax.”
The Generals are a part of the Sacramento Senior Men Baseball League. They drove an hour and half for the game.
“Being here is humbling,” said Van Ness, the league president. “It’s like a ‘scared straight’ type of thing, but when you observe the guys on the field, you can see that they are normal people who made mistakes.”
Generals coach A. Zavala added, “I thought it was a good experience for my team. I’ve been through the jail system, but I was able to turn my life around through baseball.”
Zavala now runs his own law firm.
The All-Stars regained the lead in the third, 9-8. Anthony Davis and Denard singled and Crowder found the center field gap for a double and two RBIs. David Fraire scored Crowder with a single past the shortstop.
“What can I say? We are in prison and we get to play baseball,” said Crowder. “I’m trying to get a seat at the table, so I came out focused and worked hard, plus I was seeing the ball well.”
Crowder is fighting for a starting position and he put up the numbers. He singled and scored three more times with one RBI.
“It was enlightening and refreshing,” said Ramel. “The inmates played good; they showed class and a professional attitude. As a team, they were fundamentally sound …This experience makes you think about people’s hearts and to respect people.”
General Buck Pershing said, “I was nervous when I came in; we know what this place is, but as time went on, we relaxed. They just kept putting up runs and their pitcher was competitive. You really don’t appreciate what you have until you experience this.”
The All-Stars scored four runs in the fourth. James Wortham came up big with a double and two RBIs. They scored two runs in the sixth off a wildpitch and a double by Fraire and added a score in the eight.
The Generals put up four runs in the fourth to take a short lead. They scored runs in the fifth and seventh, but went down three straight in the ninth to seal the game.
The July 23 game ended with high fives from both teams and the Generals’ promise to return.
