United Tribes Legends Softball Hall of Fame welcomes three players and two teams

The “modern day warriors with a bat and a ball and a glove,” as introduced by emcee Everett “Butch” Felix Sr. (Sicangu Lakota), represented 147 teams, 43 of which played in the tournament’s Battle of Nations at the Clem Kelley Complex in Bismarck, North Dakota. Native singer and dancer Jackie Bird, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, led the procession in the spirit of solidarity.

“They’re gonna come in here with a happy heart and with pride,” said Felix Sr., encouraging the players to remember their ancestors that came before them and to honor the kinship of those beside them.

After grand entry, the United Tribes Legends Hall of Fame inducted two teams and three individuals.

The ceremony honored Jeff Smith, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Nolan Desjarlait, Red Lake Nation, and gifted them star quilts and Hall of Fame jerseys. Wennelle Clown, a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe who died in April, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Her family accepted her gifts and donated a star quilt to this year’s Battle of Nations woman champion pitcher, the position Clown played.

Teams Lady Wokiksuye and Tongue River Softball from Montana also entered the Hall of Fame.

The players from Lady Wokiksuye, ages 14 to 65, embraced one another as they accepted their new titles and gifts. Summer Fallis-Marshall (Hunkpati Oyate), said after the ceremony that she feels lucky to play the game she loves with a team that’s as close as family.

It’s a bond they’ve strengthened while traveling across the Midwest for tournaments. Fallis-Marshall said since the players often don’t have money to buy food, she and her husband make cold meat sandwiches and bring chips and apples for the women to eat on the road.

“The struggle is what brought us all together as softball sisters,” she said.

While sharing memories about the team, Fallis-Marshall checked to make sure her parents, Jim and Pam Fallis, were staying warm in the biting September wind. About 15 years ago, her dad created Lady Wokiksuye in honor of her brother James Lawrence Fallis “Ceta Ska Hoksina” who was murdered on July 4, 2004, in Big Bend, South Dakota. Jim Fallis, who was at the time a basketball coach, and his players started the softball team and named it “wokiksuye” — “to play in remembrance of others.”

“Lady Wokiksuye will always play for the love of the game and for those who can’t play and for those who have passed on,” said Fallis-Marshall.

Players, friends and family also honored Teron Sazue, a citizen of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. Sazue studied and played basketball at UTTC. His mom, Maria Provost, and his family received a star quilt and sang as a tribute to his legacy.

The ceremony went on to honor Legends Hall of Fame player Henry Harper, a citizen of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. James “JC” Crawford (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) who played with Harper for the Minnesota Chips, received Harper’s award.

“No matter how far we are apart,” said Crawford about players who have passed. “They’re still alive because our spirit never dies.”

The Legends Battle of Nations tournament closed out Friday night by crowning champions. “Inyan Woslal” Standing Rock Oyate won the women’s league and Sicangu Lakota Oyate won the men’s, while White Earth Nation took home the trophy for the co-ed league.