On July 16th 2009 the Tule River Yokuts Little League All-Stars, with the support of their tribal leaders and with their tribe behind them traveled to Arizona to participate in the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games. The baseball category of the games was hosted by Salt River Pima Maricopa tribe. Tribes from across the country were on hand to participate in these very prestigious games. Upon arrival to the Ft. McDowell Radisson Hotel, (13 miles from the playing field) the team and their parents were greeted by The Late Lori Piestewa (metz), parents and her son. We were truly honored to meet them; it was a humbling experience for us all.
We played the next evening losing our first game 11-7 in the 115 degree plus heat. This was extreme for our ballplayers. Although, we adapted to the heat, stayed positive and started to blister the ball in every direction as we turned into a hitting powerhouse in the desert on loan from California. We won our second game of the doubleheader, a night game. Our winning pitchers were, Sophia Carrillo, Aaron Franco and Buffalo "Buffalo Soldier" Peyron. In the Championship game, we again were to battle the host team, who beat us earlier. It was now 115 degrees, the team was pumped, and so were the parents who were yelling at the top of their lungs, even before the game started.
The team play inspired, the coaches worked hard to keep the kids hydrated with fluids and focus and the parents kept the coaches focused. In the end it was Tule River Yokuts First National Championship.
This was for you Tule River Yokuts!
The Head Coach was Aaron "Big Air" Franco, Assistants were, Willie Joe Carrillo Sr. and Mike "Big Diesel" Valdez",
Players were Aaron Franco Jr., Sophia Carrillo, Buffalo"Buffalo Soldier"Peyron, Wyatt McDarment, Falcon Atwell, Evan "Easy E" Williams, Willie Garfield Jr., Ooh-Shuk McDarment, Rick"Pretty Ricky"Mejia, Earlene McDarment, Kidd Valdez, River Brown, Paul Manuel, "Big" Wes Franco, Jayden "Big Fight" Behill.
Special Thanks to all of the Parents who pulled it together, the Tule River Yokuts Little League Board, The Tule River Tribal Council, Tule River Indian Health Center, Tule River Veteran Warriors, Tule River Elders, DPS, Recreations, Future Generations, Education Center and to the community. Thank you!