Softball From the Inside

Sfx: ballpark sound

The all women's team is clad in purple t-shirts, numbers on their backs.

They've played maybe ten games this season, losing more than they've won.

But tonight they have a legitimate shot, given that they are facing a rag tag team of journalists.

Plus they've got home field advantage.

T:29
:02 bring it in, bring it in. good hit. Come on batter....

A crowd of 30 women cheer their team, sitting in the bleachers along the first base line.

The fans are pumped- cheering after every hit and out.

The sky is twilight blue, with the sun setting in left field.

It's just like any summer softball game- except in the the outfield...there barbed wire twists through the top of the 10-ft chain link fence enclosing the park.

This game is being played at the Women's Prison in Goffstown.

....Hey listen Lt. Why don't you cheer your team on. He don't have to do nothing with a mouth like yours.

T.31
:04 where are we going to put you? Infield, outfield? In. Why don't you go to third...Tom, I'm not out there. Yeah you are. But Mary's out there. Just go, she won't have a problem. (fade this down)

T.32
I'm coach Tom. I've been doing this for five years now. Out here just trying to have some fun. That's what it's all about. Getting us out of the building for a little while. It's not just them, b/c I want to get out of there too....It's a 3 month season. Every May, June, July.....go get it now...play's at third, play's at third.

Coach Tom says the women have played against a church team, and a couple of public defender squads.

He says his crew ranges from players who've never thrown a ball to jocks, like Tanitia.

:47 I started playing for the town of Salem. Played catcher, played for the town and went to All-Stars, then played for Laconia High School, then I dropped out of high school...then I ended up here.

Tanita says she's played softball for about seven years.

1:!8 I got here and a bunch of people told me, they play softball, so I was all excited. The team hadn't started yet...I played catch. Night games, it was fun.

She ended up being released, but not for long.

DISC2
T.1
:28 when you get back here, they are all like, oh, why did you come back? I said I came back for the softball season. They thought it was funny. I did too.

T.1
2:12 my name is Tamara.

1:51 when you are out here playing, having a good time, you are not thinking about everything that is going on. The family, the stress. Your problems. You are just out here with a bunch of women.

During the game, the women do seem to relax, breathe a little summer night's air.

They laugh. They talk about teamwork and friendship.

Maybe they even forget about the prison just 100 ft. away.

This evening the position you play matters more than the law you broke.

Still these women know where they are.

Katie plays infield.

T.34
3:12 ... You don't come to prison to make friends. They are just acquaintances. Some people you get close to and others you don't...Nice catch Tanita!...I don't know, you don't come to prison to make friends. We have to get along or we get in trouble. So we make the best of it.

T.39
:05 my name is Megan O'Connell...

3:28 when I am out here it triggers everything that I love to do in the summer...It triggers the good things....going to bike week. Going to Florida, going to the ocean. Playing with my son. It triggers things I miss, and I value, and you don't realize how much until it's taken away. Get behind these doors, it's mental torture this prison. It's no joke.

No one was laughing when O'Connell got caught selling and doing drugs in prison.

Part of her punishment was being kicked off the team.

:05...I got put in the hole for five days. All my privileges were taken for 30 days and I am on a restricted tier where I can't come off the tier.

Prison officials made an exception for this game, though she didn't play.

Tonight is also special for Alicia Prentice.

It's her last game.

Tomorrow she's being released.

She plans to meet her husband down in North Carolina where she's lined up work digging clams.

The 25 year old will be traveling with her 2 and 3 year olds.

It may be because it's her last night, but she says tonight there's something special in the air.

T.35
2:56 nobody is arguing, we are all having a good time, and there is a lot of love tonight for some reason. And there hasn't been a lot of love in here for a long time. there has been a lot of hating and tonight there's been a lot of love and that's why I feel like it's a true summer day, summer night, playing baseball. It's actually a good night. I will remember it.

DISC2
T.1
4:00 loud cheering...the comeback.

She's also psyched her team is in the game.

T.35
3:33 ... We are doing good actually. We're not losing, well we are not being creamed, right now. That's awesome. We may actually win tonight and that's exciting.

DISC2
T.1
4:32 this is...let's see. The bottom of the sixth and it's 10-8 right now. The other guys are winning for now....we can do it.

Lt. Paul Cassio, a guard, has enjoyed the game so far.

And with the women threatening to take the lead in the seventh inning, he's swept up.

T.3
1:10 that's it. that's it. Take it home. That's what I am talking about. Yeah....oh, we're catching up now. What's the score? 10-10, you're going down now. Nice Job. (do you forget you are in prison during a game like this) Not really. Anyone can end up in prison. That's my philosophy.

Does Cassio think the inmates deserve to indulge in a little recreation?

Absolutely.

2:40 I think it's a great way for people to interact, to learn teamwork. Oh man, sign him up! (cheers) Oh, you the man, Sarge, you can see how happy people are to be out here. The spirit and build camaraderie, that team play. Baseball is the great American sport, and we have it right here in our little place. So it's cool...Nice job man!

T.8
2:50 that was just the most fun we've had so far.

Opposing player, Concord Monitor reporter Eric Moskowitz.

...The level of energy from the team, but from the crowd. It elevated it. Especially, I almost felt like, when the Sergeant came up to bat, we were destined to lose. You can't prepare for that. They had an easy-out coming up, but they put in a pinch hitter.

T.47
:05 good game...good game....thank you....good game....Whooooooo!!!!! That's right.

Final score: Women's Prison 11, rag tag team of journalists 10.

Like the conclusion to any softball game, the two teams line up and slap hands.

The women's team was scheduled to play a few more times this season.

After that some volleyball....and this winter, they'll shovel snow.

For NHPR News, I'm DG.