Baseball roundup
Area teams battle in state tourneys
By Cindy Cohoe-Tebe
Navajo Times
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(Courtesy photo)
The Chinle Dodgers are advancing to the state tournament July 3-5 in Bloomfield, N.M., in the Pee Wee Reese Division.
Te Chinle Youth Baseball League completed its first season under President Richard Sepulveda and had 15 teams registered.
The teams played 14 games in the past two months, Sepulveda said.
"This is our very first season," he said. "I coached the Chinle Dodgers last year and we had to play in Fort Defiance because we did not have a league here in Chinle.
"So this year I started the league and we have teams from here and from Low Mountain," he said.
Opening day for the Chinle Youth Baseball League was on April 26 at Chinle High School.
Along with the Navajo Capital Youth Baseball League, based in Fort Defiance, and the Shiprock Amateur League, the Chinle league operates under the Amateur American Baseball Congress.
In the Willie Mays Division (10 and under), the Chinle league's Chinle Badboyz advanced to the state playoffs, winning over the Chinle Dodgers, 11-8. The state tournament begins today in Aztec, N.M.
The Badboyz, coached by Koshey Winney, Shawn Ayze, and Lawson Harvey, includes Emette Kimbrough, Skyler Johnson, Kaitlyn Martinez, Chance Cookie Harvey, Chance Waldo Harvey, Emily Kimbrough, Brandon Charley, Shailyn Ayze, Rashon Francis, Raul Yazzie, Santiago Hardy, Christian Kieyoani, Kendyl White, Loren Yazzie, and Kayla Brown.
In the Pee Wee Reese Division (12 and under), the Chinle Dodgers advance on to state tournament, which will be played in Bloomfield, N.M., July 3-5.
The Chinle Dodgers include Tony Sepulveda, Kody Ayze, Anthaniel Long, Chance Dick, Fredric Nez, Emmett Yazzie Jr., Chaz Henry, Chance Hunter, K-Jon Dalton, Marquaz Hanley, James Sumpter, Tiagan Todecheenie, Steven Halwood and Tyus Roanhorse. They are coached by Richard Sepulveda and Sheldon Dick.
In the Sandy Koufax Division (14 and under), the Chinle Indians are participating in the Greater Four Corners State Baseball Tournament in Durango, Colo. The tournament started Wednesday and ends today.
The Indians include James Gorman, Rain Brady, Jalen Claw, Brandon Bitsui, Xylin Etsitty, Chavez Jones, Anton Wheeler, Dusty Guy, Matthew Pioche, Shawneil Yazzie, and Dominic Dineyazhe. They are coached by Sean Pioche, William Pioche and Paul Guy III.
The Chinle Youth Baseball League thanks everyone who supported the kids and looks forward to future success.
Navajo Capital Youth Baseball League
On June 19 the Fort Defiance Sluggers, Fort Defiance Angels, St. Michael Disciples and the Window Rock Giants began tournament play in the Willie Mays playoffs at the Fort Defiance fields.
The Disciples won the tournament despite falling into the loser's bracket, defeating the Sluggers 8-9. The Disciples are competing today in the state tournament in Aztec, N.M.
Members of the Disciples are Emmanuel Curley, Caleb Duncan, Collen Hales, Charles Henderson, Jimmy Jarvison, Sterling Morgan, Adrian Nahsonhoya, Bryant Nelson, Tyrrell Roan, Cameron Sandoval, Malik Scott, Dalton Shirley, and Zhealon Tso. They are coached by Michael Nelson Jr., Ron Duncan and Richard Morgan.
Three players from the Sluggers team - Warren Scott, Bo Clark, and Richard Cheama - were recruited by the Disciples for the state tournament.
"Since the Disciples have taken this tournament and this team, the majority of the parents, myself, and my wife would like to acknowledge our lord and savior Jesus Christ," said coach Nelson.
"Nine of the 13 members of the team are from the St. Michael Indian School and one is from Hilltop Christian School," he said.
Teams that competed in the Roberto Clemente Division (8 and under) were the Fort Defiance Cubs, coached by Cynthia Smith, and the Red Dawgs coached by Gene Martinez.
In the Mickey Mantle Division only one league team is competing in the Farmington league, the Diné Heat coached by Harmon Kelly.
NCYB League officers are President Larry Towne, Vice President Michael Nelson, Secretary Bobbi Baldwin and Treasurer Gene Martinez.
The NCYBL acknowledges the following sponsors: Navajo Oil and Petroleum, Western Drilling Company, Marcus Tulley, Michael Nelson Sr., Speaker of the Council Lawrence Morgan, Manuelito Towing, Tri Star T-Shirts and Trophies, and Go Team Go of Gallup.
Shiprock Amateur League
Teams from the Shiprock Amateur League will be competing in the state tournaments as well.
In the Roberto Clemente Division, the Shiprock Blazers beat the Fort Defiance Cardinals to advance in the state tournament bracket in Bloomfield.
The Blazers finished fourth in the state tournament and were defeated by the the Kirtland Central Diamondbacks 16-10.
In the Willie Mays Division, the Shiprock Mets, Shiprock Yankees and the Shiprock Angels competed and the Mets won the league tournament and are playing today in the state tournament in Aztec, N.M.
In the Pee Wee Reese Division teams include the Shiprock Angels, Shiprock Red Sox and Shiprock Athletics. No other information was available.
To report league or game results, contact Cohoe-Tebe at 928-871-8512.