Gila River competing in inaugural NABI Softball invite

As Little League and PONY all-star tournaments get underway in the coming weeks, hundreds of baseball- and softball-playing Native Americans will get their own turn in the spotlight.

In partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the NABI Foundation is hosting the inaugural NABI Baseball and NABI Softball invitationals July 5 to 9 for high school students graduating from 2008 through 2011.

The softball field is made up of 12 teams, including 14 athletes on Team Gila River from Gila River Districts 1 through 7.

"That's a big tournament," said Katie Joaquin, Gila River's coach. "Down here, we're used to having 10 (teams) at the max (in Gila River's league).

"At one point, we did have 10 girls' softball teams, but they ranged in ages from 8 to 12 and 13 to 17, so even the older girls were playing the little girls because we had maybe four or five girls that were 13 to 17."

Most of the girls on the team play high school softball, including players from Coolidge, Casa Grande and Chandler Hamilton.

But Joaquin thinks the tournament may ultimately lead to another avenue for the girls to be able to play softball.

"We have some people that could come out and look for club teams, which Gila River does not have right now," she said. "We do have a couple of girls right now that are trying out for a club team, so I've let those coaches know: ‘Come out.'"

The team has been practicing in Sacaton, which can be quite a hike for some of the girls on the roster.

"It's competitive, but our team is a friendly team," said Cory Whitman, the team's ace in the circle and Joaquin's sister.

Two girls, Paisley Jackson and Alyssa Nish, are also taking part in the Native American Basketball Invitational, which is entering its sixth year and sparked the idea for NABI's baseball and softball invitationals.

"With NABI expanding, it's going to be a pretty cool tournament," said Nish, a shortstop and left fielder. "There are teams coming from all over. It's a good experience for anybody that's going to play the sport."

Added Jackson, a shortstop and catcher: "It was fun, seeing all the other girls and how much competition's out there."

For more information, visit NABIHoops.com or dbacks.com/intertribal.

Contact writer: (480) 898-4906 or rcasey@ahwatukee.com.