The Valley Chronicle - Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

 · 5 min read

Girls softball team excels at the North American Indigenous Games

[caption id="attachment_5370" align="alignright" width="576"] Photos Courtesy of Jacob Briones
Team California at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Canada.[/caption] ■ By Mike Hiles / Contributed Being invited to play softball at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto was exciting to Soboba Tribal Members Yawaywish (Yaway) MaMa Laupsa-Briones and Kaya Grace Ciccone-Cozart. Returning home with gold medals for Team California made the trip even more memorable. With more than 5,000 athletes, 2,000 volunteers and a countless number of spectators and dignitaries, the NAIG is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of indigenous people. It took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from July 16 through 23. Team California’s 16U Female Softball team had to play five games before its gold medal match against Team Ontario, which ended with a 12-2 score. Head coach Non Miguel, who has been coaching for community teams and reservation tournaments since 2003, said the idea to put together a team for the games began at the end of last year. “We started thinking about all the girls we knew from neighboring reservations that we could possibly get to come try out for the team,” said Miguel, who lives on the Morongo Reservation. “It was May when we knew we had enough girls to go.” Miguel held practices three Sundays a month at first but as travel ball season got underway it was more difficult to get all the girls to the same practices. Bunting and hitting were the skills/techniques he worked on the most with the team and it paid off. “Our outstanding play of the series was when 11-year-old Eva Leivas came up to bat and we had bases loaded,” Miguel recalled. “I talked to her before she went up to the plate and she said she wanted to bunt. So, with bases loaded, I told her I’m going to call a squeeze play. I told her she needed to bunt the ball toward first base. She got up there and on the first pitch she laid down the most perfect bunt down the first-base line, scored the runner on third and was safe at first. All the older girls were screaming for her so loud.” This isn’t Miguel’s first gold medal winning team, having taken a women’s fast-pitch team to NAIG in 2005 in Denver and winning there. A member of that team, Jackie Nelson from Morongo, served as his assistant coach this year, handling all the pre-game prep. Team California’s manager was Cindy St. John, who is also from Morongo. She handled the scorebook, paperwork and all financial matters. Yaway and Kaya were invited to join the team after tryouts were held. Yaway’s dad, Jacob Briones and Kaya’s dad, Jason Cozart, are cousins and accompanied their daughters to Toronto. “I had been to Canada in 1990 for the first Indigenous Games, which were held in Edmonton, Alberta,” Cozart recalled. “We played in the 16U division for boys fast pitch softball. Jacob was on that team as well. We did well and earned a silver medal.” This year, the 19U Male Softball Team California also earned silver medals. Briones said the NAIG staff did a great job coordinating cultural workshops, dances and small gatherings throughout the week-long event. But the highlight of his trip was Yaway’s first at-bat when she scored a homerun. Yaway agreed that was her favorite play of the games, too. [caption id="attachment_5371" align="alignleft" width="300"] Team California earned gold medals at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto last month.[/caption] “I hit a homerun, showing every team out there what California was made of,” she said. Briones has three other children but for now Yaway is the only one playing softball. Her older brother was a football player and her younger brother is now playing football and rugby. Her little sister is into soccer. “So, if I’m not at work I’m usually at a game or practice or coming to or from,” said Briones, who is an engineer with the Soboba Fire Department. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give that support and opportunity to your children and watch them flourish.” Yaway is entering her sophomore year at Great Oak High School in Temecula and plays softball for the “Wolfpack.” “Currently, I am playing for a coed fast-pitch league at Soboba and I also play with Soboba Women’s Fast-pitch. I will be trying out for a couple of travel ball teams for this upcoming season,” said Yaway, 15. “I have been playing softball for eight years. I love the thrill of making a difficult play or hitting a great hit. It’s also given me the opportunity to meet wonderful people and to learn many teamwork and leadership skills.” The two positions Yaway plays most often are shortstop and third base. For Team California she played shortstop the entire time. Her stats at NAIG included 12 runs scored and 17 runs batted in (RBIs). “Besides winning the gold medal, the highlight of being in Canada was the amazing experience of opening night,” she said. “Seeing so many Native Americans in one place was incredible. We were given the opportunity to trade pins or any valuables we wanted. Having the confidence to trade with others, I was able to meet great athletes who travel far to play in the games. It was an unforgettable experience.” Cozart also enjoyed the wonderful opening ceremonies where dancers and singers from the Six Nations as well as other tribes performed. He said it was great to see everyone gathered together to celebrate sport and the spirit of competition. “While there were other talented teams there, it was pretty clear from the start that Team California was the team to beat,” said Cozart, who is head of table games at Soboba Casino. He has three daughters who all play softball. Kaya will be playing softball at Hemet High School where she will be a freshman. She currently plays club ball with Firecrackers Perez/Casas 03 in Temecula. Her favorite part of the sport is meeting new people that also love to play. Her regular position is catcher but she played center field for Team California. “A highlight of the games was getting to hang out with the rest of my team,” said Kaya, 14. Other Team California 16U Female Softball members and their tribal affiliations were Alexandria Salciedo and Jailene Salciedo, Washoe; Taylynn Kizer, Bishop/Washoe; Weezy Wayman, Quechan; Jona Nejo, Pala; and, Eva Leivas, Irene Martin, Sarah Martin and Eileen Norte, Morongo Band of Mission Indians. “These girls were the most outstanding girls to coach,” Miguel said. “When they all finally got to be around each other as a team, the instant connection they all had with each other was just awesome. I would have to say with the past experiences these girls have playing they are most definitely, in my eyes, an elite team.”

S

Leprechauns bring lots of green to Soboba Tribal Preschool English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 15, 2022

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

staff
Leprechauns bring lots of green to Soboba Tribal Preschool

 · 3 min read

Koi Nation of Northern California and California State Parks Renew Memorandum of Understanding and Celebrate Renaming of Ridge and Trail English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Feb 25, 2021

Koi Nation of Northern California and California State Parks

staff
Koi Nation of Northern California, USA

 · 0 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022

24 Kids Shop with a Cop in Hemet

staff
24 Kids Shop with a Cop in Hemet

 · 1 min read

MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022

MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony

staff
MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022

NFPA urges added caution this holiday season, as Christ

staff
NFPA urges added caution this holiday season, as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for U.S. home fires

 · 3 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022

Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday

staff
Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday Season Responsibly National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Campaign Begins Dec. 14

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Oct 27, 2022

Padilla Hosts Virtual Federal Student Debt Relief Brief

staff
Padilla Hosts Virtual Federal Student Debt Relief Briefing to Encourage Californians to Apply

 · 3 min read

Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022

Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle

staff
Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle

 · 1 min read

Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022

Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show

staff
Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022

Follow-up: Plane Crashes Near Residential Homes in Heme

staff
Follow-up: Plane Crashes Near Residential Homes in Hemet

 · 1 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022

CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program partners with new

staff
CSUSB Nursing Street Medicine Program partners with new mobile medical clinic

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022

Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the

staff
Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the ‘Take Our Jobs’ Campaign

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

CHP plans DUI checkpoint in Hemet Valley

staff
CHP plans DUI checkpoint in Hemet Valley

 · 1 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

Don't undermine scientific discovery -- ever, but espec

staff
Don't undermine scientific discovery -- ever, but especially now

 · 3 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

C.W. Driver companies breaks ground on new three-story

staff
C.W. Driver companies breaks ground on new three-story stem education building

 · 3 min read

35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Governm English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Governm

staff
35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Government Distrust

 · 4 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

ICYMI: Padilla Highlights From Judge Jackson’s Supreme

staff
ICYMI: Padilla Highlights From Judge Jackson’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing

 · 6 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022

MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and

staff
MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and Opening of New Animatronic Makerspace

 · 2 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 3, 2022

Digital Newspaper

staff
Digital Newspaper

 · 1 min read

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 3, 2022

MSJC Receives $500,000 Apprenticeship Grant

staff
MSJC Receives $500,000 Apprenticeship Grant

 · 1 min read
The Valley Chronicle - Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

 · 5 min read

Girls softball team excels at the North American Indigenous Games

[caption id="attachment_5370" align="alignright" width="576"] Photos Courtesy of Jacob Briones
Team California at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Canada.[/caption] ■ By Mike Hiles / Contributed Being invited to play softball at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto was exciting to Soboba Tribal Members Yawaywish (Yaway) MaMa Laupsa-Briones and Kaya Grace Ciccone-Cozart. Returning home with gold medals for Team California made the trip even more memorable. With more than 5,000 athletes, 2,000 volunteers and a countless number of spectators and dignitaries, the NAIG is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of indigenous people. It took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from July 16 through 23. Team California’s 16U Female Softball team had to play five games before its gold medal match against Team Ontario, which ended with a 12-2 score. Head coach Non Miguel, who has been coaching for community teams and reservation tournaments since 2003, said the idea to put together a team for the games began at the end of last year. “We started thinking about all the girls we knew from neighboring reservations that we could possibly get to come try out for the team,” said Miguel, who lives on the Morongo Reservation. “It was May when we knew we had enough girls to go.” Miguel held practices three Sundays a month at first but as travel ball season got underway it was more difficult to get all the girls to the same practices. Bunting and hitting were the skills/techniques he worked on the most with the team and it paid off. “Our outstanding play of the series was when 11-year-old Eva Leivas came up to bat and we had bases loaded,” Miguel recalled. “I talked to her before she went up to the plate and she said she wanted to bunt. So, with bases loaded, I told her I’m going to call a squeeze play. I told her she needed to bunt the ball toward first base. She got up there and on the first pitch she laid down the most perfect bunt down the first-base line, scored the runner on third and was safe at first. All the older girls were screaming for her so loud.” This isn’t Miguel’s first gold medal winning team, having taken a women’s fast-pitch team to NAIG in 2005 in Denver and winning there. A member of that team, Jackie Nelson from Morongo, served as his assistant coach this year, handling all the pre-game prep. Team California’s manager was Cindy St. John, who is also from Morongo. She handled the scorebook, paperwork and all financial matters. Yaway and Kaya were invited to join the team after tryouts were held. Yaway’s dad, Jacob Briones and Kaya’s dad, Jason Cozart, are cousins and accompanied their daughters to Toronto. “I had been to Canada in 1990 for the first Indigenous Games, which were held in Edmonton, Alberta,” Cozart recalled. “We played in the 16U division for boys fast pitch softball. Jacob was on that team as well. We did well and earned a silver medal.” This year, the 19U Male Softball Team California also earned silver medals. Briones said the NAIG staff did a great job coordinating cultural workshops, dances and small gatherings throughout the week-long event. But the highlight of his trip was Yaway’s first at-bat when she scored a homerun. Yaway agreed that was her favorite play of the games, too. [caption id="attachment_5371" align="alignleft" width="300"] Team California earned gold medals at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto last month.[/caption] “I hit a homerun, showing every team out there what California was made of,” she said. Briones has three other children but for now Yaway is the only one playing softball. Her older brother was a football player and her younger brother is now playing football and rugby. Her little sister is into soccer. “So, if I’m not at work I’m usually at a game or practice or coming to or from,” said Briones, who is an engineer with the Soboba Fire Department. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give that support and opportunity to your children and watch them flourish.” Yaway is entering her sophomore year at Great Oak High School in Temecula and plays softball for the “Wolfpack.” “Currently, I am playing for a coed fast-pitch league at Soboba and I also play with Soboba Women’s Fast-pitch. I will be trying out for a couple of travel ball teams for this upcoming season,” said Yaway, 15. “I have been playing softball for eight years. I love the thrill of making a difficult play or hitting a great hit. It’s also given me the opportunity to meet wonderful people and to learn many teamwork and leadership skills.” The two positions Yaway plays most often are shortstop and third base. For Team California she played shortstop the entire time. Her stats at NAIG included 12 runs scored and 17 runs batted in (RBIs). “Besides winning the gold medal, the highlight of being in Canada was the amazing experience of opening night,” she said. “Seeing so many Native Americans in one place was incredible. We were given the opportunity to trade pins or any valuables we wanted. Having the confidence to trade with others, I was able to meet great athletes who travel far to play in the games. It was an unforgettable experience.” Cozart also enjoyed the wonderful opening ceremonies where dancers and singers from the Six Nations as well as other tribes performed. He said it was great to see everyone gathered together to celebrate sport and the spirit of competition. “While there were other talented teams there, it was pretty clear from the start that Team California was the team to beat,” said Cozart, who is head of table games at Soboba Casino. He has three daughters who all play softball. Kaya will be playing softball at Hemet High School where she will be a freshman. She currently plays club ball with Firecrackers Perez/Casas 03 in Temecula. Her favorite part of the sport is meeting new people that also love to play. Her regular position is catcher but she played center field for Team California. “A highlight of the games was getting to hang out with the rest of my team,” said Kaya, 14. Other Team California 16U Female Softball members and their tribal affiliations were Alexandria Salciedo and Jailene Salciedo, Washoe; Taylynn Kizer, Bishop/Washoe; Weezy Wayman, Quechan; Jona Nejo, Pala; and, Eva Leivas, Irene Martin, Sarah Martin and Eileen Norte, Morongo Band of Mission Indians. “These girls were the most outstanding girls to coach,” Miguel said. “When they all finally got to be around each other as a team, the instant connection they all had with each other was just awesome. I would have to say with the past experiences these girls have playing they are most definitely, in my eyes, an elite team.”

S
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Aug 10, 2017
The Valley Chronicle - Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

Soboba tribal members bring home the gold

English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022 MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony
MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony

MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022
Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday

Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday Season Responsibly National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Campaign Begins Dec. 14

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022 Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle
Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle

Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Vehicle

 · 1 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022
Follow-up: Plane Crashes Near Residential Homes in Hemet

Follow-up: Plane Crashes Near Residential Homes in Hemet

 · 1 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022
Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the

Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the ‘Take Our Jobs’ Campaign

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022
Don't undermine scientific discovery -- ever, but espec

Don't undermine scientific discovery -- ever, but especially now

 · 3 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022 35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Governm
35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Governm

35.3% Of Unvaccinated California Residents Cite Government Distrust

 · 4 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022
MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and

MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and Opening of New Animatronic Makerspace

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 3, 2022
MSJC Receives $500,000 Apprenticeship Grant

MSJC Receives $500,000 Apprenticeship Grant

 · 1 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022
24 Kids Shop with a Cop in Hemet

24 Kids Shop with a Cop in Hemet

 · 1 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Dec 8, 2022
Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday

Stick to a “Go Safely” Game Plan: Celebrate the Holiday Season Responsibly National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Campaign Begins Dec. 14

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022 Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show
Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show

Four CSUSB alumni win top award for radio show

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Jun 9, 2022
Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the

Padilla Joins Farm Workers for a Workday as Part of the ‘Take Our Jobs’ Campaign

 · 2 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022
C.W. Driver companies breaks ground on new three-story

C.W. Driver companies breaks ground on new three-story stem education building

 · 3 min read
English, Valley Chronicle: Thu, Mar 24, 2022
MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and

MSJC Celebrates Groundbreaking of New STEM Building and Opening of New Animatronic Makerspace

 · 2 min read