The 2024 National Indian Athletic Association fastpitch softball tournament was hosted at the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians reservation Sept. 20-22. Teams from across the United States and Canada brought their A games to the ball fields to play in the double elimination bracket tournament where they were guaranteed at least three games each.
Soboba Tribal Council Chairwoman Geneva Mojado, who wears multiple hats as pitcher and utility player for the Soboba Women (host team) as well as one of 20 committee members who worked together to organize the annual event, said the Tribe has been hosting since 2006 minus one COVID year.
“And it continues to get bigger and better every year,” she said, adding that this year’s 15 men’s teams and 18 women’s teams marked the most participation she’s seen at a Soboba tournament.
The men’s teams played on the two fields at the Sports Complex while the women’s teams competed at The Oaks on three fields. The fourth field was reserved for inflatable bouncers, water slides and other activities to keep young ones entertained while their moms played the sport.
While teams consisted of many siblings and other relatives, as well as multigenerational players, the spectators who set up shade canopies, blankets and lawn chairs cheered on all teams from the sidelines or from the bleachers. Each game was played for seven innings or 90 minutes, whichever came first.
Mike Calac, catcher for the Cali Reds who won their Friday night and Saturday morning games, and went on to finish in third place overall, also scored an MVP award. Other members of his team who were honored as All-Tournament team players for their outstanding performance throughout the three days of play were Vincent Nelson and Donald Padilla.
“We’re from all different reservations like Rincon, Pala and Pauma and others in the Southern California area,” Calac said of his team of 18 players. “I love playing ball. We have all been playing most of our lives, ever since we were kids.”
Also on the team are his brothers Vince and Fred Nelson, as well as cousins and nephews. He said the team gets together to practice a couple times a month and competes in 10-12 tournaments every year. The team has been to Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin and North Dakota among other stops this year playing in both fastpitch and slow-pitch tournaments.
“We usually place in the top three but it’s anybody’s game,” Calac said. “I love the atmosphere here at Soboba.”
The Silvas family had players on three different teams and Mojado said an ultimate highlight of the weekend for her was to share the field with her daughter Gloria. “We actually have three sets of mothers and daughters on our team; and two sets of sisters,” she said.
Twelve umpires from the Margarita Officials Association were on hand to officiate at all the weekend games. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide expertly trained and certified fastpitch and slow-pitch officials within Southern California, specifically, the regions of North San Diego County and Southern Riverside County.
Pete Davis is the president of the association and was working at Field 1 with fellow umpires Rudy Meza and Vic Hawthorne on Saturday morning. Davis, who played a lot of slow pitch softball when he served in the Marine Corps, is now a Federal Magistrate at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base.
“The biggest part of umpiring is game management and managing people,” Davis said. “Someone will be happy with your call, and someone will not be.”
He has been umpiring for the NIAA tournament at Soboba for the past six years and worked tournaments at Morongo and Rincon this summer. “There’s always a rapport and trust you have to build through your reputation,” he said. “I love the camaraderie here; bonding with the players.”
Vendors offering goods and foods populated the Sports Complex area between the two fields and the pool and splash pad were open to keep children occupied when they weren’t at the fences watching their older family members participate.
Gloria Vivanco was one of the vendors with her Designs by Gloria booth. She has been in business for nine years and makes everything herself. “I like doing the bird skirts and purses the best,” she said. Her daughter-in-law, Maria Vivanco, was helping her with sales and said bird skirts are usually the biggest seller, adding that Gloria is one of the few who makes peon and gourd bags, which are also popular.
The 20-member NIAA Committee is made up of Tribal members, Tribal members’ spouses, Tribal members from other reservations and family and friends who love the game of softball.
“Our meetings typically start six months in advance with a ‘Save the Date’ notice,” Mojado said. “We each have our own duties to contribute to NIAA and its success. I like to say it’s a well-oiled machine with great communication. Our last NIAA meeting before the weekend was a little potluck to share a meal and do a blind draw for the brackets.”
Lots of volunteers assisted to ensure the weekend would run smoothly and all attendees would be safe and satisfied with their experience. Dawn Lawrence was one of about 70 volunteers from the San Jacinto Unified School District who have been assisting each year since 2017. “We help with the scoreboard, clean out the dugouts between games and pick up any trash on the grounds,” Lawrence said. “It’s our ‘giving back’ to Soboba that always does so much for us throughout the year.” She said they are already planning for the turkey distribution in November and the toy giveaway in December.
Scorekeepers included Lily Brandt, Cultural Center Manager for Soboba’s Cultural Resource Department, who volunteers each year as she is avid about the sport. Dondi Silvas, an NIAA Committee member who serves as Soboba Foundation president and Soboba Housing Specialist, also donated her time for the men’s games at the second field. Family and friends all contribute with the Placencia and Durant families also on scorekeeper duty. “We like to have those who volunteer for registration continue to do registration to get to know players,” Mojado said. “Joey Placencia, Loovi Herrera and Melissa Vera do a fantastic job.”
Rhonda Valenzuella is on the committee and volunteers her time as one of the official photographers for the tournament. “Over the years, there have been many families that host teams/players. Some of our returning players come without their original teams because they love our tournament and coming out to California,” she said. “The beautiful part about this is that these ball players have been playing against one another for so long that there’s been a brotherhood/sisterhood that’s developed on these ballfields over the years so they can easily find a team to play for.”
She knows of two Canadian teams and one from Oklahoma that have been hosted by families at Soboba, as well as an infinite number of individual players that come from across the U.S. and Canada. The Placencia family hosts Bryan’s Blackhawks from Oklahoma, members of the LNG Dreams women’s team from Canada and whoever needs a place to stay, visit or get something to eat. “This year they even opened their home to one of our vendors so they wouldn’t be sleeping in their car. They always make everyone feel so welcome,” Valenzuella said. “As the years go by, I find out more and more of our families go above and beyond to accommodate our ball players. We’ve all become this beautiful fastpitch family over the years. Hosting usually entails food, lodging, and socializing; creating bonds, core memories, and transforming from strangers into lifelong family members.”
She added, “I’ve been on this NIAA Committee for so long that many of our ballplayers have literally become family over the years. I’ve been playing fastpitch since I was little and grew up with many of our ball players. I enjoy every game; this sport runs through my veins.”
Shortly before the scheduled start of the tournament on Friday, Sept. 20, there was a thunderstorm in the area and the opening ceremony was moved indoors at the Sports Complex. Each year, honorariums are presented to those who have been instrumental in playing a significant role in the softball community. Those recognized at this year’s opening ceremony and with ceremonial first pitches from family members were Jennifer “Jenny” Bow, Howie Diaz Jr. and Leroy Segundo. Mojado said it turned out to be a blessing to be gathered together to honor them in an intimate setting.
“We only had a 15-minute game delay. And with fields being well taken care of and groomed, no fields held any puddles of water for delay,” Mojado said. “The games stayed on schedule.”
First place teams received a gourd trophy by Joseph Masiel of Pechanga, tournament jackets and $4,000 cash; second place teams earned a gourd trophy, hoodies and $2,000; third place finishers received a gourd trophy, long-sleeved shirts and $1,000; while the fourth-place teams were given back their entry fee of $500.
2024 NIAA Men’s Division results: First place, MMC (Morongo Men’s Club), who came in as reigning champions; Second place, Manderson A’s (South Dakota); third place, Cali Reds; and fourth place, Red Leaf (South Dakota). Named Most Valuable Player was Hobe Locke of the Manderson A’s, MVP Pitcher was Steven Normand of MMC; and MVP Catcher for the Cali Reds “Mike C” Morreo Jr. (Calac).
Players who received All-Tournament nods were Chayton Lloyd and Ethan Lans from MMC, Joe “Cornbread” Merrival and Stanley Walking Jr. from the Manderson A’s, Vincent Nelson and Donald Padilla with the Cali Reds, Richard “JR” Charging Hawk Jr. with Red Leaf, KJ Mazzeti from Rincon Men’s and Cameron Curo with BBMI. Honorable mentions went to Eloy Montoya, MMC; Anton Little Shield, Red Leaf; Cory Reed, Rincon Men’s; and Stevie Silvas, Team 45 (from Soboba).
2024 NIAA Women’s Division results: First place, Morongo Women, who were first last year; Second place, Misfits; third place, Rezilience; and fourth place Soboba Women (all California-based teams). Kali Sargent from Morongo Women’s team was named Most Valuable Player, MVP Pitcher was Alex Hernandez with the Misfits, and MVP Catcher was Jessica Manuelito of Rezilience.
Players who received All-Tournament honors were Cary Moone and Jackie Nelson from the Morongo Women, Raelyn Rodriguez-Magginni and Taliann Hunter from the Misfits, Arlene Stone and Michelle Pipkin from Rezilience, Annabelle Dixon and Stephanie Cooper-Dixon with the Soboba Women’s team and Tehauni Leal of the Red Arrows. Honorable mentions went to Alexandria Thomas, Pukaist Ladies; Kristi Castello, Dig It!; Jess Redhouse, OutKasts Fastpitch; and Berta Nejo, Old Pala.
“The biggest highlight is always when players and spectators come up to the committee or me to say ‘Great Tournament, Soboba is a great host’ or ‘We love coming to Soboba to play,’” Mojado said.
Photos courtesy of those listed in the captions.
