The Poarch Band of Creek Indians hosted the annual Native American Youth Organization baseball and softball tournaments this past weekend at their new athletic complex.

Poarch fielded seven teams in the tournament with all seven placing either in the Top 3.

Edie Jackson, Tribal administrator for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and a member of the NAYO board, said the tournament went off without a hitch.

“Everything about the tournament went extremely well,” Jackson said. “We had two good days of baseball and softball with no major delays due to the weather.”

The tournament, which featured five different Tribes including Poarch, the Seminoles from South Florida, the Senecas from New York, the Cherokees from North Carolina and the Choctaws from Mississippi featured a total of 26 teams between the Tribes at the new complex.

Jackson said the Tribes were impressed with the Poarch hosted tournament that will return next year.

“A lot of the other Tribes were really impressed,” Jackson said. “They were impressed with our fields, facilities and even the awards that we presented.”

Out of the seven teams that placed for Poarch, two finished in the top spot with the 16-18-year-old Poarch baseball team finishing in first place as well as the 13-15-year-old Poarch Indians baseball team also ending the tourney No. 1.

Two of Poarch’s softball teams finished in second place in the NAYO tournament with the 16-18-year-old softball team and the 13-15-year old team in the runner-up spots.

Finally, the other 13-year-old boys team the Poarch Warriors, the 9-12-year-old baseball team and the 9-12-year-old softball team each finished in third place at the NAYO tournament.

Jackson said Poarch was represented well by each team in the tournament.

“Our teams did a great job representing our Tribe,” Jackson said. “They played well and showed great sportsmanship throughout the tournament.”