Sports

Concord Young Professionals Play Softball with Prisoners

Summer games are part of a recreational, assimilation program at the Goffstown prison.

Just before thunderstorms began to roll into Concord on July 18, young professionals who work in the region were in Goffstown at the New Hampshire Women’s Prison playing softball.

The game was the third time the Concord Young Professionals Network softball team, The Young Guns, played at the prison.

The games are part of a recreational and assimilation program the prison offers for the inmates – a chance to get outside, get some exercise, and smack some balls around.

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Jeffrey Lyons, the public information officer for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, said the women at the prison get to play games all summer long, often amongst themselves and members of the public.

“(It’s) really for the fun of it,” he said of the games. “We’re very excited to invite these groups to come in, and give the women a chance to interact with members of the public.”

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Players needed to go through a background check weeks in advance in order to get into the prison. On the day of the game, players were only allowed to bring their gloves into the prison grounds. Participants had to go through a metal detector and were required to leave their licenses and car keys with a guard before entering. Players weren’t allowed to bring gum into the prison. The Young Guns also didn’t wear their uniforms, for obvious reasons.

Softball equipment was provided by the prison, as well as water and popcorn.

Last year, the Young Guns crushed the prisoners. This year, however, the women were ready, with one hurler of a pitcher and women who had clearly been practicing since last year in key positions, like left and center field.

A new rule was also in place allowing for only two home runs per team, due to the short fence distances. Each homer after that would be considered a double. The Guns also decided to mix things up by putting players in positions that they normally never play.

The women prisoners both watching and participating cheered on their teammates, with a bit of joking around, catcalling, and a lot camaraderie, encouraging their teammates to play hard.

About two innings into the game, the clouds hung over the horizon, with bright lightning and ominous thunder booming in the foreground. By the fourth inning, the showers started and the game was called, with the Guns leading, 6 to 4.

Later this season, a group of public defenders will be playing the prisoners and the Young Guns hope to be invited back in 2014 to play again.


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