Wingate Shush Softball Slam: Late rally lifts Newcomb, Thoreau teams into semifinals

Posted by Navajo Times | Apr 3, 2026 | Softball |

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

WINGATE, N.M.

The opening round of the 2026 Wingate Shash Softball Slam wrapped up Thursday at Wingate High School, with Newcomb’s dramatic late rally in a 12-11 win over Zuni headlining the day’s action.

Newcomb jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Zuni tied the game at 2-2 in the second. The Lady Skyhawks answered with four runs in the bottom half for a 6-2 lead, but the momentum shifted quickly.

Zuni erupted for eight runs in the top of the fourth inning to take an 11-6 advantage and put Newcomb on the brink. The Lady Skyhawks answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead.

Tawney Platero scored on a bases-loaded walk, and Baylynn Etsitty and Billrayiikaso Howard were both hit by pitches, allowing Ziara Benally and Caydence Begay to score the tying and winning runs in the 12-11 victory.

In another close contest, Thoreau edged Shiprock Northwest 8-7.

Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Shiprock Northwest’s Mya Begay winds up for a pitch during the opening round of the 2026 Wingate Shash Softball Slam between Thoreau and Shiprock Northwest at Wingate High School.

Thoreau took an early 1-0 lead before Shiprock Northwest answered with four runs in the second inning to go ahead 4-1. The Lady Hawks responded with a five-run inning for a 6-4 cushion, but the Lady Falcons tied the game at 6-6 later in the inning.

Both teams added a run in the third to remain tied at 7-7 before Thoreau pushed across the go-ahead run in the fourth inning and held Shiprock Northwest scoreless in the bottom half to seal the win.

Hózhó Academy turned in the most decisive performance of the day, defeating Valley 18-8.

After a scoreless first inning by Valley, Hózhó took a 2-0 lead and later broke the game open with a seven-run second inning to go up 9-2. The Lady Pirates added six runs over the next three innings, but the Lady Wolves kept extending the lead and finished with 18 runs.

In the final game of the day, Wingate rolled past Navajo Pine 16-1.

Wingate set the tone early with seven runs in the first inning and added nine more over the next two innings. Navajo Pine managed its lone run in the third, but the game was quickly out of reach.

With the opening round complete, Newcomb (3-7) advanced to the championship bracket and will face Hózhó Academy (9-1) at 2 p.m. Thoreau (1-5) will also move on to play Wingate (4-5) at 4 p.m.

In the consolation bracket, Sanders Valley (3-8) will take on Zuni (1-8) at 10 a.m., while Navajo Pine (3-6) faces Shiprock Northwest (0-6) at noon.

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