SANTA FE – The Navajo Prep softball team is on the brink of elimination in the Class 3A state tournament after a tough loss Wednesday in the opening round of bracket play against St. Michael’s.
In an explosive offensive display, the Horsemen secured a 12-10 victory over the Eagles in a game defined by aggressive baserunning and a series of powerful extra-base hits that kept the scoreboard moving from the first inning to the last.
The opening round loss drops Navajo Prep into the consolation bracket and a clash Wednesday, May 13 at the Los Altos Softball Complex against Santa Fe Indian School, which lost 16-0 in the opening round.
St. Michael’s set the tone immediately in the bottom of the first, putting up four runs. Nadia Cedillo, Karolina Ruiz, and Jaslene Ramirez all connected for doubles, while Mariella Ruiz ignited the scoring by stealing home.
The momentum continued in the second inning, where the Lady Horsemen exploded for seven more runs to take a commanding 11-1 lead. The highlight of the frame was a massive inside-the-park home run by Kailei Archuleta, driving in two.
The inning was also characterized by relentless pressure on the paths, with Erianna Sisneros and Kianna Trujillo both successfully stealing home.
Despite the early double-digit deficit, Navajo Prep refused to go quietly. The Eagles chipped away in the third and fourth innings, utilizing disciplined plate appearances and aggressive baserunning from Isabella Yazzie and Kira Begay to bring the score to 11-5.
The power bats for Navajo Prep woke up in the later stages: Aiyanna Etcitty launched a 2-run inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning, followed by a three-run blast homerun in the sixth inning by Jazmine Deswood bringing the Eagles within two runs at 12-10.
Entering the top of the seventh, the pressure was on St. Michael’s pitcher Cedillo. After a leadoff fly out and a strikeout of Begay, Navajo Prep’s Kyleigh Lincoln kept hopes alive with a sharp double to right field. However, Cedillo remained composed, inducing a game-ending groundout to first baseman Kianna Trujillo to seal the win.
Navajo Prep advanced to the bracket portion of the Class 3A tournament, topping Tohatchi 12-2 in a play-in game earlier on Wednesday.
The Eagles overcame an early deficit with a five-run explosion in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back, ending the game via the run rule after six innings.
The Eagles’ aggressive baserunning became the story of the afternoon. Shundiin Antonio knocked a single to put runners on, setting the stage for Lincoln to steal home to take the lead. Yazzie capped the opening frame with a two-run double to left, scoring Antonio and Leilani Wood.
Leading 5-2 in the fourth, Etcitty broke the game open. Etcitty scorched a line drive to center for a triple to score Begay, then crossed the plate herself on a hard-hit double by Deswood.
Etcitty struck again in the sixth, clearing the bases with her second triple of the day—a high fly ball that fell near shortstop—to drive in Cheyenne Davis and Begay. Lincoln followed with an RBI single, then proceeded to steal second and third before sliding home on a final steal to secure the 10-run margin.
Shania Johnhat earned the win in the circle for the Eagles, navigating a bases-loaded walk in the third inning to limit Tohatchi to just two runs on the day.