PHOENIX – Host to nearly 1,000 Native youth baseball and softball players and coaches, their families and friends, the Arizona Diamondbacks Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball Tournament and inaugural Native American Baseball Invitational has been deemed a success.
The event was conceived with noble beginnings 10 years ago, stemming from the Diamondbacks’ hope to create a grass-roots program benefiting Native youth in the Southwest, Diamondbacks’ representative Amy Buchan explained.
“It’s a way for us to promote youth baseball on the reservation,” she said.
At that time, the nearby Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was also looking to expand or create a new program within its Little League program.
With these visions, the tournament was born.
This year’s youth games were held July 5 – 9 at four “Diamonds Back” fields throughout Phoenix as well as on the tribal grounds.
In total, 44 teams from throughout the Southwest and beyond participated.
“It was awesome! It’s so inspiring to see all the Native youth and to showcase their talents,” said Inter-Tribal Fastpitch coach Robert Villegas, of Guadalupe, Ariz.
Villegas’ softball team of girls ages 13 – 18 took first place in the NABI Softball Tournament and will head to British Columbia to participate in the North American Indigenous Games Aug. 3 – 10.
“It encourages them to see there are more Natives out there playing,” he said.
Rod Marianito, Dine’, coach of the Fort Defiance Wildcats, said his team’s main reason for attending was to meet other Native players and engender self-confidence in the Native community of ball players.
He said the games were less competitive than the Amateur Softball Association matches his girls normally face, giving the team a new type of challenge.
“We had to make adjustments in our game – moving up on the ball more, playing a shorter game, running the ball more, getting on the left side of the ball and slapping the ball more.”
Alexis Villegas, 17, utility player for Inter-Tribal Fastpitch, said being part of the first NABI softball tournament was a thrill.
“To be able to do it for the first time and seeing all the Natives get out there and play was the best,” she said. “I think it gives me confidence, because when we’re out there playing, we don’t run into other Natives very often. Natives need to be seen more – especially in this game.”
Geovanni Polacca, 13, pitcher for the Kamatke Reds of the Gila River Community in Laveen, Ariz., enjoyed the opportunity to pitch in opposition to teams from throughout the state. “I had 28 strikeouts in one whole day!”
Kamatke Reds manager Lorina Allison, whose teams have played in the Diamondbacks’ youth tournament for seven years, said the opportunity to play regional teams encourages her team to think more seriously about the game.
“The benefit they get is seeing different techniques and how other kids do what our coaches are trying to teach them.”
Buchan explained that the event organizers also wanted to inspire Native ball players to see the reality of pursuing the game at the collegiate level and beyond. Currently, only three Native players participate in Major League Baseball – Kyle Lohse, Nomlaki Wintun (St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher); Jacoby Ellsbury, Dine’ (Boston Red Sox outfielder); and Joba Chamberlain, Winnebago (New York Yankees starting pitcher). Thus, the movement to inspire young Native players to play is prime.
In line with this mission, several of the players described their vision for the future with baseball or softball.
“Playing here makes me think that I could be a professional baseball player,” Polacca said. “I’d like to play at college first and then continue my baseball career.”
“I actually talked to a scout from Haskell University there,” Villegas said.
In addition to the tournaments, each of the teams was given 20 tickets and honored at the 10th annual Native American Recognition Day Diamondbacks game against the San Diego Padres.
The presentation included song and dance and on-field recognitions prior to the game.
Marty Bowman, Dine’, coach of the junior league Statz, which has played for all 10 years, said the organization of the events improves each year.
“Every time we go it’s never a disappointment. As long as we have fun, it’s worth it.”
For more information, visit http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/community/intertribal_tournament.jsp.

Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball Invitational results
Junior Division (ages 9 – 12)
Champion: Statz, Dine’, from Window Rock, Ariz.
Second place: Page Native All-Stars, Dine’, from Page, Ariz.
Third place: Fort Defiance Mariners, Dine’, from Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Fourth place: Mesa Lil’ Indians, Salt River, from Mesa, Ariz.

Senior Division (ages 13 – 16)
Champion: Scorpions, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, from Tucson, Ariz.
Second place: Nixaawii Warriors, Umatilla from Pendleton, Ore.
Third place: New Mexico Tribe, intertribal, from Albuquerque, N.M.
Fourth place: Page All-Stars, Dine’, from Page, Ariz.

NABI Baseball (high school boys)

Champion: 4 Love of the Game, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, from Henryetta, Okla.
Second place: RedHawks, Salt River, from Mesa, Ariz.
Third place: Team New Mexico, southern New Mexico pueblos
Fourth place: Navajo Nation Windtalkers, Dine’, from Chinle, Ariz.

NABI Softball (high school girls)
Champion: Inter-Tribal Fastpitch, intertribal team from Guadalupe, Ariz.
Second place: Native Sluggers – 4 Corners, Dine’, from Bloomfield, N.M.
Third place: Fort Defiance Wildcats, Dine’, from Window Rock, Ariz.
Fourth place: LiveWire, Dine’, from Bloomfield, N.M.