3 Takeaways:

– Na7ive Na7ions created a 14U girls’ all-star team composed of 12 Indigenous student-athletes to participate in the annual 2026 Babe Ruth World Series in Florence, Alabama.
– Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community student-athlete Naomi Anton played for the 14U girls’ softball team.
– The softball team defeated Puerto Rico in the championship game.

You can’t spell champion without N-A-O-M-I. Anton, that is.

Fresh from her recent selection to the Na7ive Na7ion 14U girls’ all-star softball team, superstar student-athlete and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Naomi Anton traveled to Florence, Alabama, to participate in the annual 2026 Babe Ruth Softball World Series from July 26 to Aug. 1.

Anton was joined by fellow Indigenous athletes from the Navajo Nation, the Comanche Nation, the Gila River Indian Community and beyond. Together, the team was the first and only all-Indigenous softball team to participate in this year’s event. It was also the first time the players competed as a team after being selected to the roster.

In the 75-year history of the tournament, no Indigenous team had won the Babe Ruth World Series. That streak ended as the girls played against some hard-hitting teams, which included Puerto Rico, Texas and North Carolina.

Na7ive Na7ion started the Babe Ruth World Series by winning eight straight games, blowing out teams with scores like 10-5 and 13-1. They also had a close one, where they won 8-7 against Supper Optimist from North Carolina. The team finished with a dominating record of 9-1.

Anton played well in the outfield, commanding both right and left field during the games. Despite facing some stellar pitching from her opponents, Anton also contributed the intangibles that helped her team secure the championship.

Coached by former Major League Baseball pitcher DJ Carrasco, the all-star team also faced some severe weather while participating in the near weeklong tournament.

Etching their names into the Babe Ruth World Series record books, this year’s NN team proved that a simple idea by husband-and-wife duo DJ Carrasco and Autumn Lopez has already begun transforming the future lives of Indigenous student-athletes across the country for the better, including here in the Community.

 O’odham Action News will be conducting an exclusive interview with Naomi and her time winning the 2026 Babe Ruth World Series in a future edition.