BRIGHTON — A varsity high school softball game between Moore Haven and Okeechobee served as a “homecoming” for many players from the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

In front of about 130 spectators April 14, Okeechobee enjoyed a big night at the plate as the Brahmans defeated Moore Haven, 15-2, in five innings under the lights at Ollie Jones Memorial Park on the Brighton Reservation, where several of the players live and/or attended Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School.

Thirteen tribal players from the teams gathered for a group photo before it was “game on,” however, the game almost didn’t get started.

A scheduling snafu with the umpires left the teams scrambling to find replacements. Although they didn’t have umpire attire, Corey Coleman and Mitchell Runkles came to the rescue. Crawford called balls and strikes behind the plate while Runkles handled the bases.

Okeechobee is a Class 4A school; smaller Moore Haven, is a Rural Class school. Okeechobee was led by Joleyne Nunez, who delivered five RBIs and two hits, including a bases loaded hard-hit single up the middle that opened the scoring and ignited a seven-run second inning.

Melaine Bonilla drilled a two-run double into the left-center gap in the third to give Okeechobee an 11-0 lead. In the fourth, Tehya Nunez hammered an RBI single for Okeechobee.

The young Terriers were led by Preslynn Baker – the team’s only senior – who blasted a no-doubt-about-it home run over the left field fence in the third. Moore Haven also received two hits from Teena Maree Covarrubias.

In addition to the prominent presence of tribal member players, the head coaches on both sides – Moore Haven’s Preston Baker and Okeechobee’s Mary Huff – are also from the tribe. Having given birth just days earlier, Huff attended the game but did not coach; Danny Bonilla served as the substitute head coach for the Brahmans.