This week, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks annual sporting competition specifically for Native American youth from across the Valley and beyond. The summertime tradition, known as the D-Backs Inter-Tribal Tournament, is now celebrating its 25th year.
Rising tribal baseball and softball players from near and far shine while competing in the inter-tribal tourney under the bright lights at Talking Stick Resort’s Salt River Fields near Scottsdale.
This year’s outing has grown to 75 teams — about 1,100 Indigenous youth representing more than 20 tribes — from all over Arizona, California, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Four days. Three divisions. 103 games in all.
Oklahoma’s Tribe of Gad Warriors won 4-2 over AZ Heat in the Thursday night Triple-A finals, scoring its second consecutive championship.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the number of participants.
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