After defeating LA LOVE in last weekend’s memorable preseason game, the SQ Giants fell to their arch-rival the Mission in the season opener, 5-4.

On a chilly, breezy April morning, the SQ Giants and Mission went through their pre-game warm ups as the visiting team from San Francisco began their annual rivalry with the home team which usually includes three to four game each year. 

Greg Snyder, a long time volunteer coach for the SQ Giants, also plays on the Mission and said he was torn about the day. “I just want to play baseball and [today], I can’t root against anybody.”

To commemorate the start of the 2026 season the San Quentin Veteran’s Group Color Guard gathered around the pitcher’s mound and performed the National Anthem.

Recreation Staff K. Bhatt said he is excited for all the new seasons to start, not just the baseball season. “Generally we have a good team, over .500 for sure, [and] we have some new high level teams coming in,” Bhatt said.

In the first inning SQ Giants Anthony Pintarelli hit a two- run double, and scored a run.

“We got it together a little more than last year, [and] personally I’m doing a lot of work to get better,” Pintarelli said. 

After the solid start the SQ Giants stalled out as the Mission scored two runs in the fourth inning. 

Mission pitcher Aaron Hart threw a good fastball and closed out the game for Mission. This is Hart’s first time visiting the prison and he said he felt a lot of energy here. “I expected to see a lot of guards, guns, [but] nothing like this,” said Hart. “I am surprised by how nice the people here are.”

Hart reflected about the fact that his brother was just released from prison this year. “This gives me a different perspective, and I thank you guys for letting us come in,” Hart said. 

The Mission had a two-run lead going into the ninth before the SQ Giants’ Rick Dias singled and drove in a run. As Dias cut the Mission lead to one, the Giants went on a hitting spree that loaded the bases and with two outs, Anthony “T-Tone” Denard had a chance to pull off the win in dramatic fashion, but an infield pop-fly closed the game out.

Denard humbly spoke of just missing a grand slam. “”I tried not to overthink the situation and react like normal, but a questionable high-strike call changed everything,” said Denard. “I got jammed up.”

Even the best only succeed 30% of the time in baseball.