The San Quentin Hardtimers softball team withstood a Diego Boys last minute rally to win 30-29 on a double hit by Mark Jordan, in eight innings of baseball.
Early on, the Hardtimers were up 11 runs.
Then Diego Boy Spencer Douglas whacked an approximately 400-yard home run. “That the longest home run I ever saw,” said Hardtimer John “Hawkeye” Flemming.
Still, the score was 11-2 Hardtimers.
The Hardtimers increased their score, with a lead off home run by Carlye “Otter” Blake that started a 9-run rally, increasing their score to 21-2.
But the Diego Boys didn’t give up. “No quit in these guys. Plus they can hit, hit, hit and they have started to wake up and are making plays,” said Diego Boys Coach Phil.
Diego Boys B-Rice and “Captain” Morgan hit three home runs between the two, bringing in several runs and helping to bring their team to within 7, 29-22 at the top of the of seventh, which threatened to be the end of the game.
Normally, there is only enough time to play seven innings, however, even though the Hardtimers were up, they agreed to play nine or until 7:30pm.
The Hardtimers went three up and three down, giving the plate right back to the Diego Boys who took full advantage.
In the eighth inning, Demar hit a 3 RBI homer, bringing the score to 29-26. Then Captain Morgan hit his second home run, to make it 29-27.
“Only two so far, I’m a little bit of an underachiever today,” joked Morgan.
Next Diego Boy B-Rice hit his third home run of the day, bringing in the tying runs. However, their rally was stopped when Los’s hit was caught by Blake at shortstop.
With time running out at the bottom of the eight, Mark Jordan came up to bat with one out and one man on base. He hit a double that sealed the deal.
This was the second time the Hardtimers beat the Diego Boys in five tries, however, the first came against a shorthanded Diego Boys team when five teammates weren’t allowed inside to play, leaving an asterisk by that win.
“It feels real good. Everybody participated that’s how you do it,” said Hardtimer Coach John “Yahya” Pratt.
“I told you this would be the game,” said Hardtimer Sandy “Rasheed” Lockhart, who hit a home run that bounced off the roof of the arc building. He also made a double saving catch by the benches.
