RECORD 194 TEAMS TRAVEL TO VEGAS FOR 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 1, 2016

LAS VEGAS - The 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest Championships, which was held April 19-24, blew up this season drawing a record 194 teams taking to the diamonds here.

Here’s a recap of the first session (April 19-21; Men’s 65 and up):

Starting with the 65-Major Plus division, Timberworks Construction 65's bested fellow California team, Omen 65, in a two-out-of-three game series. Timberworks edged out a game one win 16-15 and completed the sweep with a 34-22 win in the championship game.

In the 10-team 65-Major division, the No. 6 seed MN Masters/Ancell went 4-0 with wins over Arizona Ancient, D & K Softball, SoCal Gusto and finally top seed, NOR-CAL STIXX 65. STIXX lost its opening game to Marauders in a nail-biter 17-16 to fall into the elimination bracket. With their backs against the wall, STIXX would make an impressive run through the bracket, going 5-0 to reach the championship game and eventually take the runner-up finish. SoCal Gusto finished in third place.

The 65-AAA division also featured 10 squads, with top seed Over the Edge polishing off a perfect performance, going 2-0 in seeding play and 4-0 in bracket play to claim the division. Over the Edge defeated Sacramento Islanders 65, Scrap Iron Diamonds 65 and OC Mustangs twice. OC Mustangs took the runner-up spot, while KC Kids finished third following a solid performance in the elimination bracket.

Makua Alii (HI) won the six-team 65-AA division avenging a close loss to Duke City Dynamite 13-12 by coming back to win both the championship and “if” games by scores of 20-8 and 16-9, respectively.

After going 2-0 in seeding play, Omen 70 went 3-0 in bracket play to win the four-team 70-Major Plus division. Omen 70 defeated Scrap Iron 70 Legacy in a pair of hard-fought games, 5-4 and 9-7, to claim the division.

Top Gun Swat would be the top dogs in the 70-Major division, going 4-0 with wins over Top Gun 70, Nick’s Diner, Tri-State Diamondbacks and Poncho's 70.

Hooikaika Kinipopo (HI) won the eight-team 70-AAA division as the No. 5 seed, going 4-0 in bracket play, defeating TNT, top seed Masters Marauders (BC, Canada) and Scrap Iron 70 Red twice.

Git-R-Done 70 and El Paso Nine-Elevens played in a best two-out-three game series, with Git-R-Done going 2-0 for the sweep to take the 70-AA division.

The San Francisco Seals 75's took the three-team 75-Major Plus division, getting the better of Top Gun 75 Classics and PDR Fastsigns, while California Connection outlasted Scrap Iron Beams in the two-team 75-Major division.

The 75/80 Gold division featured eight teams, with Kokopelli Eye Institute Scorpions 75's going 4-0 in bracket play to win the division. Hui Ohana finished second, while Top Gun Silver 75's finished third. Fairway Ford was the lone 80’s team, going 1-1 in seeding play and 1-3 in bracket play.

Here’s a look at the second session (April 22-24; Men’s 40-60 divisions & Women’s divisions):

The Men’s 40 Masters Major Plus division consisted of 10 teams, with Dudley/Prestige capping off a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding games and 4-0 in bracket play. Kraze also went 2-0 in seeding games and earned the top seed, before falling to Dudley/Prestige twice in bracket play to take the runner-up spot. After dropping their first game in bracket play, Nor Cal Stars bounced back to finish third.

The 18-team Men’s 40 Masters Major division, saw Team Dickies/Elite/Dudley come out of the elimination bracket to defeat Reno Elite Silver Bucks in back-to-back matchups, winning 24-23 and 40-28 in the championship and “if” games. After falling to Nicon Trucking in their second game in bracket play, Team Dickies/Elite/Dudley put forth a valiant effort rolling off seven straight wins to win the championship. Reno Elite Silver Bucks finished second, while Prestige Pools posted a third place finish.

Sommerville Softball dominated the four-team 50 Major Plus division, going 3-0 in seeding play and 3-0 in bracket play to conclude a perfect 6-0 weekend. Arizona Elite/Demarini finished second.

The 50-AAA division featured 12 teams with Pacific Coast Alliance coming out on top, defeating Xtreme in a thrilling “if” game, 28-27.  Xtreme defeated Pacific Coast Alliance, 23-22, in the championship game to force the “if” game. Kamikaze rounded out the top three finishers with a third place finish.

The 50/55-Platinum division was comprised of nine teams with No. 2 seed L.A.F. 50/DeMarini coming back to defeat top seed JU Entertainment 23-22 in the championship “if” after falling 20-17 in the championship game. Westcoast 50's finished in third place.

The 55-AAA division consisted of 12 teams, with Santisi Brothers taking the title following their 5-0 record in bracket play. LVSSA 55 Hitmen finished second, with OG Outlaws coming in third place.

In the 50/55-AA division, KSS won the three-team division beating out Horn Softball and Lights Out 55.

AZ Legends won the 10-team 55-Major division as the No. 5 seed, defeating Top Gun 55's 23-14 in the “if” game. Top Gun defeated Sonoma County Crush 55 25-18 to come out of elimination bracket and into the championship game.

Summy's Nighthawks posted a perfect tournament showing, going 2-0 in seeding play and 3-0 in bracket play, including a pair of wins over Minnesota Masters / White to take the 60-Major Plus division.

Nine teams battled it out in the 60-Major division with the No. 3 seed West Coast All Stars going 4-0, including two wins over top seed Ambush, concluding with a 31-28 win in the championship game.  War Eagles won four games in the elimination bracket to claim third place.

The 60-AAA division saw another exciting finish, as the No. 8 seed Rocco's 60's downed No. 3 seed CJ & S Express in the “if” game 25-24 after falling in the championship game 20-16. Second seeded Bucky's Casino 60's finished in third.

The 60-AA division featured six teams with Los Vatos Viejos 60 coming out of the elimination bracket to defeat previously unbeaten Scrap Iron 60's Rockies 25-24 in the championship game and 30-29 in the “if” game. Scrap Iron Rockies previously defeated Los Vatos Viejos 29-25 to knock them into the elimination bracket. New Mexico Warriors finished in third place.

The Women’s 40/50 division consisted of 16 teams that were broken down into three divisions (40-Major, 40-AAA and 40-AA/50).

TKP/Hunters avenged a loss to Old School 40's by coming back to defeat Old School 11-7 and 11-10 in the championship game and “if” game to win the 40-Major division.

Eleven teams made up the 40-AAA division with SoCal Toxic going 4-0 in bracket play out of the No. 4 seed spot. Toxic defeated Smack That 18-10 in the championship game. Idaho Spirit finished in third place.

50 N' Over It took down Arizona Dream Team to win the 40-AA/50 division. The team’s split the two games on the first day of bracket play, while 50 N’ Over It came back on the next day to take two out of three games to take the series.