Sports
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION C
Reeling 49ers looking for an upset
MOVING ON » Life after Garoppolo begins today as
Niners, Beathard try to topple Chargers on road
By CAM INMAN
MERCURY NEWS
CARSON — Here comes
Game 1 of 13 without Jimmy
Garoppolo to finish off the 49ers
season.
Finish? That’s not the word
the 49ers invoked in their locker
room, no matter how demoral-
ized they were losing their star
quarterback to a season-ending
knee injury last Sunday.
BASEBALL » A GAME’S RESTORATIVE POWERS
Field of redemption
Inmate Juan Navarro gets a base hit during a friendly game with visiting members of a Seattle baseball league at San Quentin State Prison earli-
er this month. The prison team has become a way for inmates to get ready to return home, and it has a positive effect on visiting teams as well.
San Quentin games spur personal
growth for inmates — and visitors
I
SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON
t was game day here, so
Branden Riddle-Terrell had
been out that morning to
touch up the diamond, helping
to chalk the foul lines and fill in
potholes. It was Riddle-Terrell
who made the sign that hangs
near one of the dugouts —
HOME OF THE SAN QUENTIN
GIANTS — and who fixed the
American flag nearby, and who
placed the distance markers
along the outfield fence.
“Why?” I asked him. What
would drive an inmate to obsess
over this modest baseball field
on the edge of freedom?
“One, when I’m here, I’m not
ATHLETICS 5, ANGELS 2 » Oakland primed for Wednesday’s AL wild-card game at New York
Davis homers, A’s clinch winningest year since 2002
The Athletics’ Khris Davis, right, celebrates his two-run home run with
Matt Chapman during the first inning of Saturday’s game against the
Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
“There’s a lot of people out
there doubting us and counting
us out,” said C.J. Beathard, Ga-
roppolo’s predecessor and now
replacement.
“Everybody in the building is
excited,” Beathard added, “and
we’re ready to get rolling and
win some games moving for-
ward.”
The 49ers (1-2) roll in today to
the quaint, temporary home of
the Chargers (1-2) at Carson’s
PHIL BARBER
in prison. I’m not thinking of
being locked away,” Riddle-Ter-
rell said. “And two, every time
I’m here, I’m reminded of what
I did, and what I want to be.”
What Riddle-Terrell wants
to be is what most of us aspire
to: a present parent, a loyal
spouse, a friendly neighbor and
productive co-worker. What he
TURN TO BARBER » PAGE C7
MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS
StubHub Center, which has a
capacity of 25,386.
Beathard called it “crazy”
that, of all teams, he’ll be facing
the Chargers, a team he grew up
rooting for because their gener-
al manager was his grandfather,
Bobby, a Pro Football Hall of
Fame inductee this year.
Here are five ways the 49ers
can pull off a crazy upset:
1. Big-play Breida
Running back Matt Breida
shares the NFL rushing lead
TURN TO 49ERS » PAGE C3
Inmate Brian “Sharky” Holliday, left, high-fives fellow inmate and
teammate Juan Navarro after scoring a run during the game with
visiting members of a Seattle team at San Quentin State Prison.
By GREG BEACHAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANAHEIM — Khris Davis hit
his major league-leading 48th
homer and the Oakland Athlet-
ics locked up their winningest
season in 16 years with a 5-2 vic-
tory over the Los Angeles An-
gels on Saturday night.
Jed Lowrie homered and
drove in two runs for the play-
off-bound A’s (97-64), who hadn’t
won 97 games since going 103-59
in 2002.
A majors-best 42-22 since the
All-Star break, the A’s are al-
ready locked into a trip to New
York on Wednesday for the AL
wild-card playoff game against
JOSIE LEPE / ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOTOS BY ALVIN JORNADA / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
the Yankees.
Kaleb Cowart had an RBI
single for the Angels, whose
four-game winning streak end-
ed with a landmark loss. The
Angels (79-82) are guaranteed
to finish with three consecutive
losing records for the first time
under manager Mike Scioscia,
who hasn’t announced whether
his 19-year tenure is over.
Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani
and Justin Upton each went
0-for-4 for the Angels, who have
made the playoffs just once
since 2009 despite their annually
bulky payroll. The Halos hadn’t
had three straight losing sea-
sons since 1992-94.
Liam Hendriks pitched the
Inside
Baseball » 2
Coll. Football » 4
Scoreboard » 5
Weather » 8
49ers quar-
terback C.J.
Beathard, left,
is slated to
make sixth
career start
today against
the San Diego
Chargers.
CARLOS OSORIO / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stanford wide receiver Trenton
Irwin is stopped by Notre Dame
safety Jalen Elliott, left, and
linebacker Asmar Bilal during
Saturday’s game.
STANFORD
Book a
mystery
to No. 7
Cardinal
QB leads No. 8 Irish
to 38-17 victory; Love
leaves with injury
By JOHN FINERAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH BEND, Indiana —
Ian Book and Miles Boykin,
the heroes of Notre Dame’s
Citrus Bowl victory on New
Year’s Day, worked their magic
once again and a stifling defen-
sive line chipped in as the No. 8
Irish broke a three-game losing
streak to No. 7 Stanford with a
38-17 victory Saturday night.
Book threw for 278 yards and
four touchdowns, including an
8-yard TD to Boykin, who had
career highs in receptions (11)
and yardage (144).
“Our chemistry is coming
along but he’s such a good play-
er and I love throwing to him,”
said Book, whose 55-yard touch-
down pass to Boykin while re-
placing an ineffective Brandon
Wimbush provided the Irish a
21-17 victory over LSU in Orlan-
do last January.
Stanford coach David Shaw
was impressed by Book, who
hails from El Dorado Hills, out-
side of Sacramento. Book was
Notre Dame’s starting quar-
TURN TO STANFORD » PAGE C4
first inning, allowing one single,
before Trevor Cahill (7-4) threw
four innings of one-hit ball for
the A’s. Hendriks also could
start Wednesday in the Bronx,
depending on how manager Bob
Melvin decides to approach the
one-game playoff.
Blake Treinen got pinch-hit-
ter Eric Young Jr. on a ground-
out with two runners on in the
ninth to secure his 38th save.
Davis connected in the first
off Tyler Skaggs (8-10), driving
a two-run shot for his ninth ho-
mer in September and his fifth
in seven games. The 30-year-old
slugger matched Jimmie Foxx’s
TURN TO A’S » PAGE C3
C6 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

BASEBALL » INSIDE SAN QUENTIN

Left, inmate Branden Riddle-Terrell, center, leads members of the San Quen-
tin baseball team and visiting Seattle team in prayer after their final game
at San Quentin State Prison earlier this month. Above, inmate John “Yahya”
Parratt, who serves as San Quentin’s president of baseball operations, holds
a box of baseballs autographed by members of the San Quentin State Prison
baseball team.

Diamond in the rough

PHOTOS BY ALVIN JORNADA THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Inmate Anthony Denard warms up in the on-deck circle during a friendly game between the San Quentin State Prison inmate baseball team and visiting members of a Seattle league on a
sunny September day at San Quentin State Prison.

Members of the Seattle league of the National Adult Base-

ball Association walk toward the San Quentin State Prison
entrance to play a friendly game earlier this month.

Inmates Max Hickson, right, and Brian “Sharky” Holliday shake hands in the dugout after Holliday returned from his
at-bat in the prison team’s recent game against a baseball team visiting from Seattle.
Inmate Tim Fielder updates the San Quentin scoreboard.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 C7

SIDELINES
BASKETBALL
Warriors drop preseason
debut to Timberwolves
The Golden State Warriors
lost Saturday night’s preseason
opener against the visiting Min-
nesota Timberwolves, 114-110.
Jeff Teague scored 17 points
and Derrick Rose added 16 for
Minnesota, which was without
All-Star Jimmy Butler, who
requested a trade from the team
last week.
Anthony Tolliver scored
15 points, hitting 5 of 10 from
3-point range. Karl-Anthony
Towns had 12 points, Andrew
Wiggins scored 11 and rookie
Josh Okogie 10 for Minnesota.
Stephen Curry made 5-of-9
3-pointers and finished with 21
points in 19 minutes for Golden
State. Klay Thompson scored 17,
including three 3-pointers, and
Kevin Durant added 16 points.
Curry, Thompson and Durant
combined to shoot 20 of 33 from
the field, including 10 of 16 from
behind the arc. Rookie Marcus
Derrickson and Jordan Bell
scored 10 points apiece.
Golden State finished with 33
ALVIN JORNADA / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT assists on 44 made field goals,
Inmates Louie Longoria, left, and Anthony Russom watch the San Quentin State Prison baseball team play a game with visiting members of a Seat- including 12 3s, and Draymond
tle league, taking in the game being played on a dirt infield inside the walls of the maximum-security facility. Green had eight assists.
US women to play for
BARBER “Every time I think I’m
having a bad day, I think about
them,” Reichardt said of his
where worse.
And yet, as Sessa explained,
all Level 2 state prisoners are
dangerous places, with harsh
divides along racial lines. Life
there is ruled by tension. San
gold today at World Cup
CONTINUED FROM C1 players. “When it comes to free allowed staples like vocational Quentin is generally more Diana Taurasi scored 26
time, there’s nowhere I’d rather training, counseling and edu- relaxed. It may be the only Cali- points, including hitting five
did is haunting. be. I’ve always had one pledge to cational access. The superior fornia prison in which different 3-pointers, to help the U.S. beat
In 2012, when Riddle-Terrell them: I want to still be coaching extracurricular opportunities at ethnic groups mix freely. Belgium 93-77 on Saturday in the
was 24 years old, he celebrated when you’re out.” San Quentin are mostly a func- “Honestly, at first, when I semifinals of the FIBA Women’s
the marijuana harvest near Each time he arrives, Re- tion of location. Proximity to a found out there was a baseball Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Auburn at the home of his close ichardt submits to the same vast metropolitan area means team, I was like, ‘Should I do Breanna Stewart added 20
friend, Ryan Roth, by drinking, procedure I followed two weeks more volunteers and more mon- it?’” recalled Navarro, who points while Brittney Griner had
snorting and huffing himself ago. Take the last exit before ey from empathetic donors. San is serving 40 years for armed 16 for the Americans, who will
into a stupor. He wound up the Richmond Bridge. Park Quentin has yoga classes (pro- robbery — four years for the be trying to win a third straight
stabbing Roth, a father of two, and approach the antiquated vided free of charge by a local robbery itself, and 36 for gun gold medal at the World Cup
to death with a pocket knife. entrance to the prison on foot. instructor) and theater produc- enhancements. “It’s prison. — something the country has
Prosecutors, fearing that a Sign the massive guest regis- tions (coordinated by the Marin There’s all this racial stuff. And never done.
jury might find him not guilty ter out in front. Report to the Shakespeare Company). Most I would be the only Latino on The U.S. has won 21 consecu-
by reason of insanity because guards inside. Enter the secure of the athletic facilities here the team. But as soon as you tive World Cup games and will
of his degree of intoxication, “sally port” and show your ID to were underwritten by outsiders, throw on the jersey, all that goes play Australia for the title today.
allowed Riddle-Terrell to plead another guard behind Plexiglas. including the baseball field. away.” Belgium, making its first ap-
guilty to voluntary manslaugh- Exit the sally port, cut through Reichardt and Kremer hold When Reichardt began coach- pearance in the World Cup, was
ter. His sentence: 11 years in a landscaped courtyard and tryouts in the early spring and ing at San Quentin, there were led by Emma Meesseman’s 23
state prison. walk to the baseball field. The pare down the roster to 20 play- two separate teams here, the A’s points. The team will play Spain
“You don’t go a day without only difference is that I was ers. Talent level varies widely. and the Giants. The A’s were for the third-place medal.
remembering what you did, accompanied by a prison guard; Some are playing organized predominately African-Ameri-
and the people you hurt,” Reichardt possesses a card that baseball for the first time. At can, the Giants predominately Suspect arrested in
Riddle-Terrell told me behind allows him to move about with- the other extreme is Anthony white. That racial split is one shooting death of player
first base as his team of inmates out escort. Denard, 40, who was drafted by reason the prison combined the
played an integrated game with The scene at the diamond the Minnesota Twins in 1996 two teams into one squad that An arrest has been made in
a team from Seattle on Sept. 15. surprised me. I imagined tight and the Arizona Diamondbacks uses both uniforms. “Come on, the shooting death of LSU bas-
“The family, the community — control — of me, of Press in 1997 as a speedy centerfielder. this is logic,” Reichardt said. ketball player Wayde Sims.
even the first responders that Democrat photographer Alvin “If I hit it anywhere in the in- “Use baseball as a common Baton Rouge police said Sat-
night. At night, when I’m in my Jornada and of the entire pris- field, and it was bobbled at all,” denominator.” urday that 20-year-old Dyteon
cell saying my prayers, I try to on population. Instead, I found Denard said, “I was safe.” There’s another connection Simpson has been charged with
recall all the names of those an atmosphere that inmate and Denard, who grew up in that matters here — the bond second-degree murder and is at
people, and there’s so many I catcher Juan Navarro described Oakland, washed out of the formed with visiting teams. East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
can’t even go to sleep.” as “like being inside a college minor leagues early and went Again, San Quentin is the only Sims was shot early Friday
Can a game erase the crimes that you can’t get out of.” astray. When he was 22, he got prison in California that allows during a street fight caught on
of the men who play it? Can it Inmates strolled around the into an argument at a gambling games against outsiders. The video near the Southern Univer-
cancel their pain or diminish grounds in their blue jumpsuits. house, lost his temper and shot visits can be fraught, at least at sity campus.
their shame? Can it make them Some carried books. Some a man named Kevin Davis six first. Baton Police Chief Murphy
whole? No, not by itself. But stopped to chat or exchanged times. Davis died, and Denard “A small percentage, maybe Paul said at a media conference
here at San Quentin, officials greetings with baseball players. was convicted of second-degree three to five percent of the play- Saturday that investigators con-
still see prison as a place of re- Just to the east of the dia- murder. ers who come in, never come cluded from the video and DNA
habilitation, and they embrace mond was a basketball court “It’s something that I regret back again,” Reichardt said. evidence at the scene that a man
any program that advances the (where members of the War- — not saying because I got “They won’t outwardly say why, who could be scene punching a
mission. Including baseball. riors play every year), tennis caught,” he told me. “I regret but they’re just not comfortable friend of Sims shortly before the
Sonoma native Steve Re- courts, a weightlifting area and because I took a mother’s child. in the setting. I’m not sure if shooting was Simpson.
ichardt, who has coached in horseshoe pits. The baseball And I hurt families. Not just they’re claustrophobic. Maybe
the prison for five years, is a squad shares its outfield grass one family, but two families. the guys in the watchtower with MOTORSPORTS
believer. with soccer and football teams. I’ve wrecked communities. The rifles are intimidating. I’ll say
“I still have great sympathy There’s a running club, too. An hurt, it will never stop.” another 20 percent or so just Sonoma Raceway to use
for the victims. You never lose hour or so before the games But Denard, who has a placid come in to play baseball for a original NASCAR circuit
sight of that,” Reichardt said. against Seattle began, a band demeanor, a ready smile and night and don’t put any emo-
“Still, the guys I’m working practiced next to the field. a few extra prison pounds, be- tional thought into it.” The road-course layout for
with will be getting out some- True, when you panned out, lieves he has something to offer. The other 75 percent? They’re the 2019 Toyota/Save Mart 350
day, and part of my respon- the scene looked a little more He dreams of coaching youth like the players from Seattle, NASCAR race at Sonoma Race-
sibility is to help make them ominous, with armed guards baseball with his two brothers. a rec-league squad that, as far way will return to its original
better men, and to make them stationed in towers, razor wire He’s scheduled to go before a as anyone could recall, had 12-turn, 2.52-mile configuration,
better prepared when they’re topping much of the outfield parole board in 2024. traveled farther than any other the track announced Saturday.
released. They’re looking to fence and the massive West “We’re not what we did,” team to play here. They were The layout, originally un-
make amends to society and to Block of cells rising like a Denard said of the prison pop- playing their fourth game in veiled when the raceway opened
make the most of their second gothic tower beyond left field. ulation. San Quentin in 48 hours, and in 1968, incorporates a sweeping
chance.” The field was shabby, with an Denard played some softball by the time the final inning was downhill corner known as “The
Reichardt played basketball all-brown-dirt infield and a at other state prisons, but it was over, the mutual affection was Carousel,” which was the site of
at Sonoma Valley High School pitcher’s mound that looked like only one building vs. another. bubbling over. They all laughed Dale Earnhardt’s pass of Mark
(Class of ’85), but he always har- a small lump. When he arrived at San Quen- and gently teased at the post- Martin in the 1995 race.
bored a love of baseball. When Still, as the sun dipped toward tin and discovered there’s a game handshake line. As Sonoma Raceway cele-
he was in his mid-30s, he signed Mount Tamalpais to the west hardball team here that goes Gathering around the mound, brates its 50th anniversary next
up for the Redwood Empire and a salty breeze blew off of up against junior-college and people from both sides offered year, the Monster Energy NA-
Baseball League, a men’s recre- the bay, there were probably minor-league opponents, he was thanks. Darkness was falling, SCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save
ational hardball league. Reich- worse places to play a little ball. elated. He hadn’t played since and the field lights were on. Mart 350 will be held June 21-23.
ardt had an opportunity to join An inmate updated the man- the late 1990s. “We had no idea what to
other Redwood Empire players ual scoreboard in center field. “Fell in love all over again,” expect coming in,” David Steele, Briscoe wins Xfinity race
for a game in San Quentin, and Others gathered around the Denard said. the Seattle coach, told his hosts. on new Charlotte ‘roval’
the experience moved him. backstop to spectate, and even I expected the inmates to tell “Usually in baseball, guys
“First, I’m a big fan of history to heckle. me that baseball is a good way are walking around trying to Chase Briscoe won the first of
and San Quentin has some of “Usually by about the fifth to kill time, to grind down the act stoic. You greeted us right two big NASCAR races on the
the most well-known history inning, you forget it’s prison,” endless nothingness of incar- away.” new “roval” at Charlotte Motor
around our area,” he explained. Riddle-Terrell said. ceration. They corrected me, He promised to return. There Speedway. Briscoe grabbed his
“I found that fascinating. Plus, Bill Sessa, an information explaining that there is no end was a little more chit-chat, and first career Xfinity Series victo-
it was a rare chance to go inside. officer with the California to the work and study a man then the two sides parted. They ry Saturday on the hybrid of a
But it all comes back to base- Department of Corrections and can do at San Quentin. had met as strangers and come speedway and road course.
ball.” Rehabilitation (and someone To these players, it’s more together as equals. Now the con- Briscoe beat Justin Marks, a
Reichardt started gathering I know from his side job as a about personal growth. trast in their lives came back part-time NASCAR racer who
other teams for trips into the freelance motorsports writer), “It gets us ready for getting into focus as the Seattle players said this week this race is his
prison, and in 2013 he agreed to told me that San Quentin has back home,” Navarro said. left for their cars, their flights, last one dabbling in these cars.
coach inside the walls. a large population of Level 2 “Just those little interactions their hotels and beds, wives and Briscoe won in a Ford fielded
So for about half the year, offenders — men who have you have to relearn. When children. Reichardt headed for by Stewart-Haas Racing in the
Reichardt, who lives in San received comparatively minor teams come in to play, at first the Golden Gate Bridge. The A’s leadup to today’s Cup race.
Francisco and is senior chief sentences or who have worked it’s handshakes.” Navarro pan- and Giants changed out of their Saturday was also a playoff
engineer at the Tiffany Build- their way down from Level 4 or tomimed a stiff how-do-you-do. dusty uniforms, ready to return race for NASCAR’s second-tier
ing on Union Square, enters Level 3 by hewing to the rules of “At the end,” he said, “it’s all to their cells, another X on the series. Four drivers will be elim-
San Quentin for games every the system. hugs.” calendar as the doors slid shut. inated from the playoffs today.
Wednesday and Saturday. He The sort of open wandering What these men really ■ Valtteri Bottas beat his
shares duties with another that takes place at San Quen- appreciate are the connections You can reach columnist Phil Mercedes teammate and cham-
outside volunteer, Mike Kremer, tin would be inconceivable at formed on the diamond. If Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil. pionship leader Lewis Hamilton
and four inmate coaches. The Corcoran or Pelican Bay. The you’ve read or watched any- barber@pressdemocrat.com. to pole position for today’s Rus-
2018 season runs another three message is clear: Screw up here, thing about maximum-security Follow him on Twitter: @Skin- sian Grand Prix on Saturday.
weeks. and you’ll find yourself some- prisons, you know they are ny_Post. Bottas was 0.145 ahead of Ham-
ilton and 0.56 ahead of Sebas-
“One, when I’m here, I’m not in prison. I’m not thinking of being locked away. tian Vettel, who is 40 points off
Hamilton in the title race.
And two, every time I’m here, I’m reminded of what I did, and what I want to be.” — Press Democrat
BRANDEN RIDDLE-TERRELL, San Quentin inmate, on what playing baseball means to him news services