3 Takeaways:

• The AZ Sons 16U team, coached by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members Arnold Thomas and his nephew Jacob Andrews, participated in the second annual Native Nations 16U boys’ baseball tournament. 
• AZ Sons 16U went undefeated during the tournament, going 6-0.
• At the tournament’s conclusion, the Na7ive Na7ions selection committee selects several players across all participating teams to create a national Indigenous baseball team to play in the annual Babe Ruth World Series tournament.

The triple-digit scorching heat over Father’s Day weekend didn’t deter the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community baseball team AZ Sons from bringing home championship hardware in the second annual Na7ive Na7ions 16U baseball tournament. 

Celebrating their second year of the tournament, Na7ive Na7ions, which is run by former Major League Baseball pitcher DJ Carrasco, held the opening ceremony on June 18 at Salt River Fields. 

A major component of the tournament comes at the end of the games, when the Na7ive Na7ions selection committee spends time reviewing game footage, statistics and the overall performance of all players to help determine a Na7ive Na7ions national baseball team to compete in the annual Babe Ruth World Series tournament, scheduled to be held in Missouri in August. 

The 11 teams participated in pool play and tournament games on Friday and Saturday, leading up to Sunday’s Father’s Day championship game on June 21. 

A 12th and honorary final team, from the City of Scottsdale’s Adaptive Recreation Department, rounded out the lineup of teams that were honored and celebrated during the tournament’s opening ceremony. 

During the opening-ceremony festivities, Miss Indian Arizona Sialik King sang the national anthem in O’odham and performed with the Salt River Basket Dancers while SRPMIC Vice-President Ricardo Leonard sang “The Basket Dance.” 

Later, SRPMIC Council member Jacob Butler and Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council member Gloria Alvarez Gomez threw out the ceremonial first pitches. 

Butler later thanked the Na7ive Na7ions staff and encouraged all the ballplayers to continue striving for greatness on the baseball diamond and in the classroom. 

“I know some of you will make it to the major leagues too. I look forward to seeing you on TV,” he said. “This wouldn’t be possible without those people in the seats sitting behind you. Turn around and thank your families, friends and all your supporters who have all helped get you here.”

As the opening ceremony continued, a video by SRPMIC President Martin Harvier played on the stadium’s jumbo screen. In the video, Harvier showed the homemade pitcher’s mound he built on the side of his house to practice his pitches when he used to play in local community baseball tournaments. 

“I’ve seen some very talented individuals and I often wondered, ‘Where are they playing now?’ That’s why I support this effort. There are so many Native Americans that are in rural areas that never get seen. They need an opportunity like this to showcase what they can do,” he said. 

The Games

This year’s superstar athletes on the AZ Sons 16U team were Abelardo Valenzuela Jr., Angel Medina, Angel Rivera, Derek Parra, Jack White, Jayden Pena, Jesus Gonzales Jr., Lucas Joe, Nolan Tso, Reyes Ruvalcava, Ricky Gutierrez, Rylee Pena, Sir’Hendrix Sneezy and Zavior Bishop. 

The AZ Sons 16U team started off strong and never let their foot off the gas pedal, so to speak. In their first game of the tournament, they dominated the Trail Blazers and officially put all teams on notice as they cruised to an easy 12-0 victory. 

That same day, AZ Sons went up against fellow Arizona team the AZ Blue Birds. The afternoon sun didn’t stop the Sons; they blanked the Blue Birds 14-0. 

During their second game, a teachable moment occurred, compliments of AZ Sons head coach Arnold Thomas. 

In the second inning, an AZ Blue Bird left-fielder dove to catch the baseball and missed, resulting in the outfielder smashing their face on the outfield’s lawn, causing a pause in the game. The crowd and nearby players from other teams playfully laughed, but not the AZ Sons. 

“Good work, left field!” yelled Coach Thomas from the dugout to the Blue Birds player. He then turned around to the AZ Sons and told the team, “Let’s be humble, boys.” Moments later, he and the AZ Sons gave the Blue Birds left-fielder a rousing round of supportive applause as the left fielder was tended to by medical officials. 

Later, during Saturday’s games, the AZ Sons continued to ascend, securing three more victories. 

All eyes soon turned to Sunday’s championship game, in which the AZ Sons and the New Mexico Pack Black battled it out for top tournament honors. Last year, the NM Pack took first place. 

Ultimately, nothing is better than playing baseball in your own backyard. After some tense pitching in the early innings from both teams, the AZ Sons settled their nerves, claiming victory and the top honors of the entire tournament, defeating the NM Pack Black, 10-8. 

“This tournament proves what is possible when Native communities come together around our youth,” Carrasco said. “Baseball is important, but the relationships, confidence, leadership and opportunities these young people gain will stay with them long after the final game.”

Only time will tell if the Na7ive Na7ions selection committee selects any superstars from this year’s AZ Sons 16U team to participate in this year’s Babe Ruth Baseball World Series, happening later this summer in Branson, Missouri. 

O’odham Action News will continue to monitor this story.