NM Pack repeat as champions

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

The D-backs Inter-Tribal Single A tournament runs through the NM Pack baseball team.

The Kirtland-based squad repeated as champions with a different set of players last week at the Salt River Recreation Baseball Fields.

“Overall, we played good baseball,” NM Pack coach Keishaun Aspaas said. “That is what we brought our boys to do, to come out and compete no matter who we play.”

The 12U NM Pack went 5-0 during the four-day tournament on June 7. In the title game, the Aspaas-coached team defeated the NM Sundevils 6-2 in five innings in a time-limited contest.

“We got guys that can compete,” the NM Pack coach said of winning back-to-back titles. “I mean, we just tell our guys to compete the best they can, and we just tell them to be confident with their fielding and hitting.”

The team consisted of Brady Yazzie, Shilo Shendo, Jacob Bitsioe, Vance Aspaas, Darnell Moquino, Liam Coolidge, Joroyn Bennie, Marcus Benally, Dylan Benally, Myles Singer, Ezra Smiley, Nohea McGilbert, Chaz Vicenti, and Westley Atcitty.

“We’ve had this group since they were eight, nine years old,” Aspaas said. “They’re a veteran squad, and they’ve been playing together for the last three, four years. They’ve learned to play well with each other. They know how to pick each other up, and overall they played a good game of baseball with hitting, pitching, and fielding.”

Three players from the NM Pack team were honored, with shortstop Brady Yazzie being tabbed the tournament’s MVP, while Leo Coolidge and Ezra Smiley made the all-tournament list.

Aspaas said he utilized several pitchers at the D-Backs tournament.

“A majority of our team can pitch,” he said. “With our program, we kind emphasize that our kids learn every position because you never know when your name gets called out to fill in a position. We want to have confidence in our players, knowing that we can put them in any position for them to succeed.”

On the offensive end, the NM Pack produced some strong hitting, with several players getting extra-base hits.

“It goes back to our practices,” Aspaas said. “We don’t just pitch with a live arm. We do other simple hitting drills. It’s to get them aware of seeing the ball from different angles and different positions.”

With the team aging out next season, Aspaas said his 12U group would play in the Double A division next year in the 15U tournament.

“They’re moving up,” he said. “We want them to succeed at every level of baseball. That’s been our main focus, teaching these guys how to play the game of baseball, knowing that the game of baseball can take them to places if they put their minds to it.”

Aspaas said the team started practicing mid-March while competing in the Farmington Amateur Baseball Congress league.

“I believe we’re undefeated in that league,” he said.

He said league games are mostly played during the weekdays, and they compete in regional tournaments on weekends.

“We started out with the Easter tournament in Albuquerque,” Aspaas said. “We also played in the Cinco de Mayo tournament, but we started our league before these tournaments.”

Following the D-backs tournament, the NM Pack team competed in the 2023 USSSA NM State Championships in Albuquerque over the weekend. The NM Pack won its pool as they were placed in the gold bracket.

“The kids fought hard, but I think the fatigued got to them,” Aspaas said. “You know, going from the D-backs tournament and having one day’s rest to play Friday and Saturday got to them.
“But overall, they didn’t quit,” he added. “We lost some close games in Albuquerque.”

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