The first ever incarcerated “Battle of the Bay” softball game occurred at SQ Rehabilitation Center. The California Medical Facility, Vacaville A’s traveled down Interstate 80 to play the SQ Giants for the historical event.
SQRC wore Giants uniforms while CMF wore Kelly Green and Wedding Gown White uniforms to emulate the former Oakland A’s. Both professional teams played against each other in the 1989 World Series; dubbed the “Battle of the Bay.”
The October softball game was a seven-inning battle that had all involved victorious although SQ won the game 24-14.
“Never in a million years did I think an event like this would ever happen,” said CMF Assistant Warden Landon Bravo, who has been with CDCR eighteen plus years and recently transferred from San Quentin to Vacaville.
SQ’s player Robert Nash added, “When I first heard about it [the game] in May, I thought people were talking out their neck. As the game got closer, I found out [resident] coach Williams was going to be assistant coach one month before and [then] I knew it was for real.”
The games planning included nine months that challenged staff at both facilities.
“I asked the staff involved to tell me how we can do it,” Bravo explained. “Events like this provide incentives for residents of other institutions to the program. People who want to program make it safe for staff,” Bravo added. “In the past five years, with the expansion of substance abuse programs, I started to see the shift.”
As game time approached, the visitors emerged from the Receiving & Release department and walked down to the Lower Yard for warm ups, the presenting of the colors, and the national anthem. Wardens C. Andes of SQ and D. Cueva of Vacaville said a few words and threw the ceremonial first pitches.
The game began with CMF scoring two runs in the first inning. The SQ Giants responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the same inning.
Vacaville scored once in the second and SQ responded with two runs. In the third, Vacaville scored one and SQ scored four in the bottom of the inning.
Vacaville then responded with three runs in the next inning before SQ exploded for eight runs.
Vacaville fought back with three more runs in the fifth. SQ countered with two more runs in the bottom.
“Get three outs so we can get them off the field and put up some runs of our own; it’s softball,” Dias said about CMF fast start.
Vacaville scored a run in the sixth before SQ added five more runs in their half of the inning. Vacaville scored three more in the top of the seventh inning to close out the scoring, leaving SQ victorious.
“They’re gonna score some runs and so are we,” said SQ resident coach Rick Dias.
“But they didn’t make a lot of errors and that surprised me; how fundamentally sound they were, but our offense was just a little better.”
Players and coaches circled the pitcher’s mound for SQ’s traditional fellowship and post-game prayer session, which was followed by a gathering in the facilities ARC building for a question and answer session. Vacaville still had to go through the R & R process again to board the bus that returned to their facility for standing count.
“There used to be an ‘us versus them, or we’re good and they’re bad’ sort of mentality,” said Warden D. Cueva. “[But] as time has passed, a lot of good [has] happened.”
For resident coach Dias, the event process was stressful because of the time needed to coordinate and execute team tryouts, player selections, and blending baseball uniforms and softball equipment.
“Having been drafted by the [Minnesota] Twins and the [Arizona] Diamondbacks, I got more out of this game than meeting two U.S. Presidents or going overseas playing in [South] Korea,” said SQ Giants player Anthony “T-Tone” Denard.
The event showed how relationships have changed within CDCR. The administration from both facilities set up the event, CMF Public Information Officer Lt. Gonzalez, SQ PIO Lt. Berry, AW L. Bravo, CMF coach J. Holland, SQ coach K. Bhatt, and formerly incarcerated volunteer Brandon Riddle-Terrell.
Riddle-Terrell, who played for the SQ Giants before he paroled has been helping the baseball program expand. He spent nine months planning this event with administration.
“We’re here for you guys today,” said Riddle-Terrell.
