Chinle softball rallies to earn split with MV

CHINLE – The Chinle Lady Wildcats found themselves in a difficult position late Tuesday afternoon.

The Wildcats surrendered an 8-0 lead after two innings of play against the Monument Valley Mustangs. But in a seismic shift Chinle rallied and even its series with MV by posting a 12-11 win.

“This was a must-win for us,” Chinle softball coach Myron Haskie said.

The second-year coach opted to start some of his reserves in the second of two games so that they could get them some playing time.

“That is when we fell behind,” Haskie said. “We switched up some positions and I threw my starters back in there and I just told the girls to chin up and keep their composure.

“We started to slowly come back inning by inning,” he added.

The Wildcats got on board in the bottom of the fourth with three runs that cut MV’s lead to 9-3. In the fifth, Chinle put some pressure on MV pitcher Arianna Black as she issued three consecutive walks.

Black struck out the next batter, but next at-bat Queara Evans cleared the bases thanks to a throwing error by MV.

Chinle was not done yet as sophomore Emerleen Begay and Hailee Burns torched the MV defense with a couple of extra base hits as the Wildcats pulled within 9-8.

The Mustangs got two of those runs back as Chinle ace Connie Burns gave up a double to leadoff hitter Blessing Betsuie. The sophomore baserunner later scored on a flyball from Black.

Two batters later Black scored and earned MV a 11-8 cushion with an RBI double from catcher Kalanie Blackwater.

Things took a turn for the MV squad as Black issued three consecutive walks to load the bases. A two-run double by Bethany Jones was followed by RBI singles from Evans and Hailey Burns as Chinle took the lead for good at 12-11.

“Once they started to hit, we made some bad throws,” MV coach Armanda Gamble said of Chinle’s rally. “We had some moments to where we should have gotten the outs, but our throws were not there.

“I think it came down to that mental toughness,” she added.

Early on MV had some successful at-bats when it jumped out to that 8-0 lead but in the last few innings hits were hard to come by.

“We were hitting right to them,” Gamble said. “The popups they got were hit right to them. It just didn’t go our way for the second game.”

Earlier Tuesday, the Mustangs won the first contest with an 8-6 decision that featured a couple of lead changes.

“That was a huge win for us because they had to pull through and be mentally tough,” Gamble said. “We’re missing our ace pitcher and she has not been cleared by her doctor.”

The MV coach is hoping to have Niaomi Benally back by next week as the senior ace was hit with the ball last week.

“It’s hurting us with her out, but we do have some backup pitchers,” the MV coach said.

For Tuesday’s game, the Mustangs used Black inside the circle for both contest. Normally, Black starts at shortstop.

“She did a great job for us,” Gamble said. “She was getting her pitches across.”

Black got plenty of help from her teammates in the opening game.

“Our outfielders caught some fly balls, and our infielders did well,” Gamble said. “Our third base missed one for a crucial out, but on the next play she did get an out.

“Our shortstop did well,” she added.

With the split, MV is sitting third in the 3A North Region standings at 6-4 overall. The Mustangs trail frontrunner Page (10-0) and Window Rock (5-2).

Ganado is holding down the No. 4 spot at 4-4 followed by Chinle (3-3), Tuba City (0-7) and Alchesay (0-8).

“I think we still have a chance for a good seed for the region tournament,” Gamble said. “For some reason we played Page at the beginning of a season and then we played them the following week again. I kind of wish that we had time to play them this month rather than back-to-back weeks. I think that would have probably made a difference.”

MV will finish out the season with a pair of region games with Tuba City on April 10 and Window Rock on April 15.

They also have nonregion games scheduled with St. Johns on Thursday, Northland Prep on Saturday and Holbrook on April 12.

The 3A North tournament is scheduled for April 19-20 and it will be hosted by Page High School.

“I really want to match up with Page to see how we do,” Gamble said. “Of course, I need my ace pitcher back too. We really need here too.”

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