The San Quentin HardTimers softball team put on a veritable batting clinic to defeat the visiting co-ed North Bay Bombers 14-9.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the HardTimers blew the game open by racking up 10 runs.
Down 4-3, Angelo Ramsey, HardTimers’ assistant coach, started the rally with a single past the shortstop. Rasheed Lockheart and Paul “Moose” Crowder both singled to load the bases. Veteran Michael “Hawkeye” Flemming found a gap in center field to score a run.
“I appreciate what’s going on with us as a team,” said Lockheart. “Everybody is trusting in the system. We are starting to find a flow.
“We are not running with the I; we’re running with the we.”
Next up was Juan Arballo, who hit a deep ball to left field for a double and two RBI’s. Doug Aubineau followed with a double and two RBI’s to extend the lead 8-4.
“I appreciate the outside people coming in; it’s an accountability tool,” said Arballo. “Knowing that we have their support helps me keep doing the right thing. So I won’t disappoint them and to be here when they come back.”
Katie Scull of the North Bay Bombers added, “It’s always fun playing here. It’s not scary; you have a bit of a moment when you first walk in and then you stop thinking about it.
“It’s about having fun and working as a team.”
Randy Ferino, Bombers coach and pitcher, walked the next two batters, which reloaded the bases. HardTimers’ Cordiare McDonald singled to score two runs.
They singled three more times, going back to the top of their line-up with a 14-3 lead.
The Bombers turned a double play and caught a pop-fly to get out of the inning.
“We’ve came here at least 20 times and only got one win,” said Ferino. “But we always compete. Most people joke about us coming in, but the goal is to be an inspiration for these guys’ transition.
“As volunteers we want to give these guys some sense of normalcy and social interaction. Some of these guys will be going home and people want to separate themselves from this reality.”
The Bombers scored twice in the seventh and put up four runs in the ninth for their final-comeback push.
In the ninth, the Bombers hit three straight singles to load the bases. Brian Palozola smashed a deep ball to left field for a double and scored two runs. Scull and Dennis White singled in scores, but Bombers went down off a double play and fly ball.
“We were hitting and our defense was great until that sixth inning,” said White. “With sports you have a common thing that we all can relate too; with life it’s about choices.”
The July 31, game ended with the new, younger HardTimers good-naturedly ribbing each other and giving high-fives to the guests.
