In a battle between two nearby rivals, the Window Rock Lady Scouts and St. Michael Lady Cardinals split a doubleheader in softball action in Fort Defiance on a windy Tuesday afternoon.

Window Rock edged St. Michael 2-1 in the first game. St. Michael nipped Window Rock, 6-5, in the nightcap.

Window Rock, 16-5 overall, 7-1 3A North Region, entertains Tuba City, 7-11 overall, 1-7 3A North Region, on Thursday in a doubleheader at 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. St. Michael, 14-5 overall, 4-0 1A North Region, travels to Newcomb to face the Skyhawks on Thursday in an interstate freedom game at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in a doubleheader.

Winnning pitcher, Window Rock junior righthander Rachael Smiley and St. Michael freshman lefthanded hurler Gabriella Simpson were hooked up in a pitcher's duel in the first game.

Smiley pitched the distance in the circle, allowing four hits and fanning seven batters. Losing pitcher Simpson hurled seven innings, giving up seven hits and fanning eight batters.

First Game

Window Rock 2,

St. Michael 1

Smiley threw a no-hitter for 3 1/3 innings before St. Michael's Sunshine Burnside rapped a single into centefield. Gabriella Simpson reached first first base on a fielder's choice, forcing Burnside at second base. Jessica Terry lined a triple into leftfield, driving in Simpson for the Lady Cardinals' lone run of the game.

Smiley allowed Terry and Kalina Smith a base hit for the remainder of the game.

Window Rock freshman Alexis Tsosie-Hood ripped a single into rightfield. Tsosie-Hood crossed the plate on Rachael Smiley's fielder's choice.

Smiley reached first base on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning. Smiley crossed the plate when Alyisha singled into leftfield. A St. Michael throwing error allowed Smiley to score.

Tsosie-Hood had three hits for the Lady Scouts. Leighianne Dale, Hale. Halia Shirley and Mikaela Roanhorse each had one hit for Window Rock.

Second Game

St. Michael 6,

Window Rock 5

Window Rock's Dale walked to begin the second game. Tsosie-Hood knocked in Dale with a RBI triple. St. Michael hurler Maya Ross retired the side, stranding Tsosie-Hood at third base.

St. Michael had a quick start in the second game. The Lady Cardinals scored one run in the first inning.

Kylea Monroe reached first base on an infield hit.Jessica Terry ripped a RBI single into centerfield, driving in Monroe.

Window Rock's Vivika Lewis reached first base on a fielder's choice to begin the second inning.Chamique Bowman walked. With runners in scoring position, Mikaela Roanhorse belted a triple, driving in Lewis and Bowman. St. Michael pitcher Maya Ross pitched herself out of pitching jam.

St. Michael scored a run in the second inning. The Lady Scouts held a 4-2 lead.

The Lady Cardinals rallied in the fourth inning. Maya Ross cracked a base hit into centerfield. Ross scored when Monroe reached first base on a Window Rock error. Auriana Quintana reached first base on an error. Sunshine Burnside walked to load the bases. Simpson belted a three-run double. Simpson was tagged out at third base, attempting to stretch the double into a triple.

Tsosie-Hood scored Window Rock's final run of the afternoon, after hitting a two-bagger.

Maya Ross was the winning pitcher. Ross allowed eight hits and striking out seven batters.

St. Michael's top hitter was Burnside with two hits.

Smiley was the losing pitcher. Smiley gave up five hits and fanning three batters. Tsosie-Hood and Lewis both had two hits for the Lady Scouts.