‘Full-circle moment’: Window Rock hires alumnae to head softball program

By Jan-Mikael Patterson
Navajo Times

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – Coming back to Window Rock High School to be the head softball coach is a dream come true for Karen Tom.

In fact, it’s a dream that is hard to put in words.

“It feels definitely like a full-circle moment,” said Tom. “(Window Rock) was where I was introduced to the game and where I’ve come to love the game. As a coach I’ve always looked at the team for that sisterhood. To establish that chemistry to bond with your team.”

For Tom, it is good to be back where it all started for her as a member of Coach Leon Oosahwe’s team. She said Oosahwe had expectations for his athletes and “a lot of tough love.”

“To be back where it all started for me…I don’t know what the word is but it’s like a dream,” she said. “But it’s a feeling of joy.”

For eight years Tom was the head coach for the St. Michael Indian School Lady Cardinals softball team, the school where she began teaching her program. But even before that she had coached for summer softball league teams.

“I’m thankful to St. Michaels for allowing me to (coach) with them,” she said. Throughout her coaching career she has helped more than 100 young ladies bolster their confidence in playing, resounding their overall composure as student-athletes.

“They are (players) all success stories,” she said. “It depends on how you define success. There are some that make it to playing college ball and there are even those that don’t get to play college ball they are still a success.

“Softball is a vessel to teach them about life and to handle tough situations,” said Tom, who started noticing changes in their demeanor over time and has witnessed a positive growth and maturity.

“Of course, we all want people to play college ball,” she said. “That’s a big dream but it’s not for everyone.”

When coaching at St. Michaels, “it was definitely a place where the biggest challenge was to make ball players that didn’t have the basic fundamentals. There were some very good athletes that went through the program and there were many that didn’t have the confidence in their ability. I just worked with the girls in finding a love for the sport.

“That’s easy to find with the talented players but with those that are not athletically talented we worked to develop them into ball players.”

Tom recalled two athletes that she coached that started out “all heart” and they worked their way through four seasons to become solid, rounded athletes. They are Aaliyah Moore and Jordan Upshaw. She witnessed them develop their skills up until their senior years and it has been rewarding to watch.

“When you invest in your athletes there is no limit to their talents,” she said.

This past Tuesday was the Lady Scouts home opener against Snowflake.

“It was a rough start for us,” she said. Snowflake took the win with a score of 23-4 in four innings.

“(Lady Scouts) started the season later than other schools,” she said. “Snowflake already had several games already so they were better prepared. I think a lot of it was the ‘first game jitters.”

Snowflake started out with a commanding lead with 8 runs scored in the first inning, including a home run struck by Lady Lobo Graycee Skousen.

The Lady Scouts attempted to get a run going in the second inning but the Lady Lobos put on a tough defensive stance allowing one run. Lady Scouts pitcher Arin Yellowhair hit a single on a 2-1 pitch that allowed Mia Stefaniak to score. Corey Owens tried to steal home but was tagged out.

Lady Scouts Robyn Billison hit a two-RBI double, moving the score to 8-3.

“(Arin) pitched really well,” Tom said. “The frustrating part is the umpire’s strike zone. She was pitching low and out but (umpire) didn’t call any strikes. When it comes to the umpire and their strike zones, you can’t really control that. It’s frustrating but it’s out of our hands.”

The Lady Lobos continued to score hit after hit. Tom said she had to switch up pitching strategies because Yellowhair was pitching fast, which made it easy for the Lobos to hit deep into the outfield.

Lady Scout Robyn Billison did score on a hit deep shot to left field that became an inside-the-park home run.

“This is a young team,” Tom said. “I’m excited to see what the rest of the season will look like.”

The Lady Scouts host Alchesay in a doubleheader on Monday, March 11, 2024.

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