Heights Church Softball League Competes Against Inmates

This is the fourth and final article in a series about the Heights Church Softball League. Follow the links to read the , and articles in the series. 

Taking the step down from the five-foot wall and onto the softball field in Grafton Correctional Institution can be intimidating, like walking into a Roman arena. Inmates gather around the wall watching, waiting for the competition to begin.

The Grafton team greets the church squad and then instantly goes over to admire their bats, newer than the ones they use in prison. Three times during the summer, the Heights Church Softball League sends a team out to the prison to play against the inmates. It originated with The , but last summer other churches in the league took interest and joined in.

To play in the game is a privilege for the inmates. Only the most trustworthy are allowed to play in the game.

After the opening prayer and the first pitch, the music turns on and an inmate starts announcing the players, serving as the MC. For the names he doesn’t know, he makes up. One guy bearing resemblance to Peter Griffin was named "Family Guy," while Heights Church Softball League co-commissioner John Petre was called "Bob Barker."

The fear, if any, fades quickly. 

“I would encourage anybody to do it,” Petre said. “Once you're inside and you feel comfortable, you don’t feel threatened at all. But the process of how you have to go through the detectors is a little intimidating. The guards are always with you. The guys are really nice and appreciative of you coming to play softball. They bring their best players to play.”

All the inmates go out of their way to thank the church team, and not just for the softball. They play plenty of games through their own leagues in prison. They’re just happy to see a new face and forget where they’re at, even if it’s for a few hours.

“You can communicate just by showing people you cared enough by showing up and giving them some of your time,” Forest Hill team #1 manager Daryl Musick said. “I understand that you can come and live a normal life, and I have more hope for the people when I see them. If people can open their heart to God, he can do the work.”

The prison team does not pull any punches though — the Heights Church Softball League hasn’t won against them in the three years they’ve been doing this. On July 16, they lost by three runs and then split up to form two mixed teams, half church and half inmates, so the two squads could interact more.

But when the horn sounds at 3 p.m., the game ends regardless of the score.

“It’s a different experience,” Musick said. “You do see a bigger picture."

Chris Sweeney is a member of The Church of the Saviour and is currently in his sixth year of playing in the Heights Church Softball League.