D-Backs softball tourney: Bidziil wins third-place trophy with walk-off triple

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Bidziil 18U softball team found itself in a 7-3 hole entering the bottom of the third inning last Friday at the D-Backs Inter-Tribal Softball Tournament.

With time winding down—the game had a 90-minute time limit— things were looking bleak for the Kayenta-based team. Nonetheless, Bidziil managed to tie the contest by plating four runs to close out the third frame as the game neared its deadline at Salt River High School.

After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, Bidziil’s Niaomi Benally belted a walk-off single in the bottom half that sealed a come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Lady Warriors in the third-place game.

“Niaomi got a base hit in between the gap in left field and center,” said Bidziil coach Marvin Russell, whose club is made up of mostly 3A North players in Arizona. “That’s just the game of softball. You can be down by so many runs, but you can turn things around.”

Earlier on Friday Bidziil fell short to the Bravettes by an 11-5 count in the bracket portion of the 16-team invite.

“We were kind of in a slump when we got done playing in our semifinal game,” Russell said. “We got into an early hole, but we were able to climb out of it. It was one of those things to where we fell into some quicksand, but they managed to crawl out of that. They stayed calm and they made some plays.”

Bidziil starting pitcher Ryleigh Alex earned the win as she allowed seven hits and seven runs over three innings. Benally collected the save by giving up no hits.

For the Lady Warriors, Alexis Wauneka was tagged with the loss, as the starting pitcher gave up eight hits and seven runs through 2.1 innings. Alana James relieved her, tossing 1.1 innings.

The Lady Warriors seized a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Madilyn Stone hit a two-run single with one out that scored leadoff hitter Shanelle Tallsalt and Ashlynn Elliot.

Bidziil returned the favor in the bottom of the frame with three runs behind three singles and a walk. Following a Lady Warriors pop out, Ryleigh Alex earned a free pass, and Ashlynn Singer followed with a single.

A fielder’s choice from Tatum Alex scored her sister, Ryleigh Alex. On the next play, Kalanie Blackwater hit a hard ground ball into left field for a run-scoring single.

Wauneka got Bidziil’s Mia Etsitty to strike out, but Benally kept the two-out rally going with an RBI single as the Russell-coached team took a 3-2 lead at the end of the first frame.

The Lady Warriors retook the lead in the top of second, aided by a Bidziil error. The designated home team put two runners on with Briseis James and Arianna Black hitting back-to-back singles.

Bidziil had a double-play opportunity go awry as a routine pop fly was dropped by second baseman Mia Etsitty. Nonetheless, the designated away team forced out Black at second while James advanced to third.

A sacrifice grounder from Sophianna Tallsalt scored James as that run tied the contest at 3-all. The Lady Warriors capped the inning with an RBI groundout from Lyndsay Thomas for a 4-3 cushion.

The Lady Warriors tacked on three more runs in the top of the third behind an RBI single by Mikaila Gastelum and a two-run homer by Black.

Down 7-3, Bidziil scored four runs on four hits to end the third frame. The Kayenta-based team loaded the bases with Blackwater earning a walk while Etsitty and Tayzha Begay followed with a pair of singles with one out.

A bases-clearing triple by Iris Day Chief moved Bidziil within 7-6. The Bidziil team was not done yet as Cheyenne Yellow followed that monster hit with an RBI single.

In the next frame Bidziil got Blackwater on base thanks to a Lady Warrior error. Two batters later, Benally’s gapper proved to be the game winner.

“They had a pitching change, and we were able to jump on that,” Russell said of their comeback. “Their pitcher was trying to get warmed up and we earned some walks. We finally got some hits going and were able to score. I mean, we got that triple from Iris to get us going.”

Despite coming up short, Lady Warriors coach Garrickson Riggs was pleased that his club reached the bracket portion of the tournament.

“This was a good tournament,” Riggs said. “We played some really good teams, and they all gave us a good fight. My girls love to play in this tournament because of the wide range of Native Americans girls that are playing.

“They love competing against them,” he added.

While Bidziil had players from the 3A North, Riggs’ team had players from the reservation as well as the Phoenix metro area.

“We’re a pretty unique team,” Riggs said. “We come from all over. We have two girls from New Mexico and half of our girls are based out of the Valley and then the other half is from up north, you know, Kayenta, Page and Ganado.

“I have some talented girls and I have one girl that is committed to play softball in Iowa and another who’s committed in wrestling,” he added. “They range from eighth graders to seniors. Six of my girls are seniors and I have two that are eighth graders who are going to become freshmen this year. I have a young talented team.”

Black, who graduated from Monument Valley High School last month, signed with Clark University, an NAIA school in Dubuque, Iowa.

“I was surprised that I got a scholarship, knowing that it was my first time playing high school softball my junior year,” Black said. “I set that goal after my junior year that I wanted to sign before the season started so I started to work hard with my sisters. I think my hard work showed when I received three offers in the month of November last year.”

Black acknowledged that playing in the D-Backs tournament was very helpful as she is set to play at the next level.

“There’s a lot of tough and skillful girls here,” Black said. “I’m just happy to be playing against them. Seeing the best girls in Indian Country really sets me up for college.”

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