8th Annual LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest Championships Draw 220 Teams

May 1, 2019

LAS VEGAS - Sin City continues to be the mecca for Senior Softball, as the eighth annual LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest Championships, held here April 23-28, eclipsed the 200-team plateau for the third consecutive year, with 220 teams in 2019.

The first session of the tournament included the Men’s 65-85 age divisions, playing April 23-25.

Starting with the 16-team Men’s 65-Platinum Division that included one Major Plus team and 15 Major teams, four teams entered bracket play with undefeated 2-0 records following seeding play. The foursome included top seed Nor Cal Reds (CA), Top Gun Elite (CA), West Coast All Stars/Team Watson (CA) and Top Gun 65 Mavericks (CA).

Among the top four seeds, Top Gun Elite would be the one team to finish within the top three, following a 4-2 record in bracket play, en route to their third-place finish. Both of Top Gun Elite’s losses in the bracket came at the hands of Arizona Ancient, including a 22-20 loss in the third-place game.

AZ Ancient began bracket play with three straight wins, before falling to Timberworks/Adidas (CA) 26-15 to drop the team down into the elimination side of the bracket.

Timberworks/Adidas, the lone Major Plus team in the division, posted a perfect 4-0 record to reach the championship game.

The championship game between Timberworks/Adidas and AZ Ancient would not be played with AZ Ancient forfeiting the final game.

Timberworks/Adidas (CA) - Men's 65 Platinum Champions

As the highest finishing Major team, AZ Ancient would also earn first place awards and a berth to the 2020 Tournament of Champions for the Men’s 65 Major Division.

Hometown team Sin City Stars (NV) finished in fourth place, while R&R 65s (CA) made a valiant run through the elimination side of the bracket with four straight wins to reach Championship Thursday, and finish among the final six teams. Scrap Iron High Octane (CO), who entered bracket play as the No. 14 seed following an 0-2 showing in seeding play, rebounded with a 3-2 mark in the bracket to finish in the final six as well.

In another 16-team division, the Men’s 65 AAA Division, five teams entered bracket play with undefeated 2-0 records following seeding play. Warriors (HI) earned the top seed, followed by Bucky’s Casino (AZ), Cut Loose (CA), Fierce Firearms (UT) and Scrap Iron 5280 (CO).

After being upset in their second game in the bracket, the Warriors rattled off an incredible six straight elimination games, including a thrilling 16-15 walk-off win over Sidewinders Desert (AZ) in the championship game, to force the “if” game.

Warriors would be unable to complete the comeback, falling 20-11 in the “if” game. Coming off its victory at the Spring World Championships, Sidewinders Desert finished the Southwest Championships with a 5-1 record to win their second major tournament of the season.

No Guts, No Glory (CA) began the tournament with three straight wins, before falling in back-to-back games to finish in third place, while Bucky’s Casino rounded out the top four finishers after winning three straight elimination games.

Fountain Valley Outlaws (CA) and Cut Loose were among the final six teams remaining to start Championship Thursday.

In the five-team Men’s 65 AA Division, Las Vegas Desert Heat (NV) defended its home turf, going 3-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 13-12 win over top seed Classics (UT) in the championship game. The Classics were held scoreless in the final three innings, while LV Desert Heat scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to hold on for the win. 911 Softball Club (CA) finished in third place.

For Las Vegas Desert Heat, this marks their second straight major tournament championship, as the team won the recent Spring World Championships.

Omen (CA) swept R&R (CA) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 70 Major Plus Division, by scores of 20-14 and 19-4, respectively.

In the nine-team Men’s 70 Major Division, top seed and hometown team Ryan’s Way (NV) came back to avenge its 16-3 loss in the championship game against Sidewinders (AZ), with a 24-14 victory in the “if” game. After losing their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, Game On (CA) came back with three straight wins en route to their third-place finish.

For Ryan’s Way, this marks the team’s second major championship, as they won the Spring World Championships.

In another nine-team division, the Men’s 70 AAA Division, Sacramento Islanders (CA) completed a perfect week, going 2-0 in seeding play to earn the No. 2 seed, before running off four straight wins in bracket, including a 14-12 victory over Doughboys (NV) in the championship game. After dropping their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, Doughboys went on a Cinderella run, winning five straight games, before running out of gas in the championship game. Warriors (HI) finished in third place.

The eight-team Men’s 70/75 Silver Division, which included one 70 AA team and seven 75 AAA teams, featured a four-game round robin to seed into a modified single elimination bracket.

After posting a perfect 4-0 record, Franklin Loan Center 70 (CA) entered bracket play as the No. 1 seed. The team continued its flawless play in the bracket, going 3-0, including a 22-5 win over Arizona Outlaws 75 in the championship game.

Franklin Loan Center 70 (CA) - Men's 70/75 Silver Division Champions

With its win, Franklin Loan Center earned its TOC berth for the 70 AA Division; while AZ Outlaws, the highest finishing 75 AAA team, earned a TOC berth for its respective division.

Hui Ohana Warriors 75 (HI) and Las Vegas 75 Coyotes (NV) tied for third place.

Omen (CA) swept California Connection by scores of 21-7 and 19-7, respectively, to win the best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 75 Major Plus Division.

In another best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 75 Major Division, Sidewinders (AZ) swept Findlay Automotive Scorpions (AZ) by scores of 19-2 and 13-7, respectively.

The Men’s 80 Platinum Division also featured a best two-out-of-three game series, as Top Gun Gold (CA), Major, swept San Francisco Seals (CA), Major Plus, by scores of 17-10 and 17-16, respectively.

The four-team Men’s 80/85 Gold Division (AAA/Major) saw the top two seeds play in the championship game, as Git-R-Done 80 (CA) edged out Scrap Iron Gray Berets 80 (CO) 10-9. Arizona Prospectors 85 finished in third place.

The Southwest Champs continued with the second session, as the Women’s 40-50 and Men’s 40-60 age divisions took their turn on the diamonds, April 26-28.

In the four-team Women’s 40 Major Division, TKP (CA) posted a perfect 3-0 record in the bracket, including a 19-10 win over top seed, Fun Bunch (CA), in the championship game. Colorado Ohana rounded out the top three finishers.

TKP (CA) - Women's 40 Major Champions

In the 18-team Women’s 40/50 AAA Division, Custom Truck (NV), one of six teams to go 2-0 in seeding, continued its solid play in the bracket. The team completed a perfect weekend, rolling through the bracket with a 5-0 record, including a thrilling 21-20 win over All Out (CA) in the championship game.

Entering the open inning facing a 17-12 deficit, Custom Truck plated nine runs in the top of the open to take just its second lead of the game, 21-17. The lead would be just enough for Custom Truck, as the team held on for the one-run victory.

All Out won three straight elimination games to reach the championship game.

Pro Moves (CA) finished in third place, while TABU (CA) rounded out the top four finishing teams.

The four-team Women’s 50 Major Division came down to the “if” game, as top seed Stix With Impact (CA) downed Old School (CA) 4-2 in the championship game to force the winner-take-all “if” game. Old School would go on to avenge its loss in the championship game, with a 12-10 victory. Arizona Dream Team finished in third place.

In the nine-team Men’s 40 Major Plus Division, Fattboyz Dudley/Elite (CA) dominated bracket play, going 4-0, including a 34-26 win over All-American Athletics (OR) in the championship game. All-American Athletics, the No. 2 seed, bounced back from an upset loss in its opening game of the bracket, winning four straight games to punch its ticket to the championship game.

SBOB/Athalonz/Voodoo (AZ) finished in third place, followed by DTA/KJE/SUP (CA) in fourth place. The last seed in the bracket, DTA/KJE/SUP won three straight elimination games en route to its fourth-place finish.

The 20-team Men’s 40 Gold Division (Major/AAA) saw top seed Cali Gold (CA) cruise to the championship game with four straight wins, including a 31-23 victory over FunHavers (AZ). Dropping down to the third-place game following that loss, FunHavers downed Empire (AZ), 25-17, to set up a rematch in the championship game. Empire won four straight elimination games en route to their third-place finish.

Building off their momentum from the third-place game victory, FunHavers avenged its earlier loss against Cali Gold with a 26-15 win, forcing the decisive “if” game. In the end, Cali Gold avoided the dreaded double-dip, defeating FunHavers 29-12 in the winner-take-all game.

Cheap Suits/Republic (CA) finished in fourth place, following a run of three straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket.

J.K. Inc/Easton (CA) took home the three-team Men’s 50 Major Plus Division, defeating Desert Springs/Elite (CA) 34-24 in its first bracket game, and then West Coast Aftershock (CA) 34-15 in the championship game.

In the nine-team Men’s 50 Major Division, L.A.F. (CA) posted a 2-0 record in seeding, before going 4-0 in bracket play, including a 22-15 win over 4 The Fallen (AZ), in the championship game, to cap off the perfect weekend. Bouncing back from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, Stadium (CA) registered a 3-2 record in bracket play, en route to a third-place finish. Top seed ShowTime So Cal (CA) finished in fourth place.

The 16-team Men’s 50 AAA Division saw Grayed & Confused (UT) run through the tournament unscathed. The team posted a 2-0 record in seeding play to secure the No. 2 seed, before rolling through bracket play with a 5-0 record, including a 24-11 win over Homeboys (HI) in the championship game.

Grayed & Confused (UT) and Homeboys (HI) pose for a post game photo

After falling to Advil Knights (CA) 24-23 earlier in the bracket, Homeboys rattled off three straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the title game.

Advil Knights finished in third place, while Tom Ranalls Realty (AZ) finished in fourth place.

In a best two-out-of-three game series for the Men’s 55 Major Plus Division championship, which would go the distance, Sommerville Softball (CA) outlasted Elite/Dudley (AZ). Game one went to Sommerville, following a 22-19 win; while Elite/Dudley evened the series with a 21-20 nail-biter. In the rubber-match, Sommerville took the decisive final with ease, 26-16.

Sommerville Softball (CA) - Men's 55 Major Plus Champions

In the 17-team Men’s 55 Major Division, top seed Team Rawlings (CA) recorded an unbeaten weekend, going 2-0 in seeding to lock up the No. 1 seed, before winning five straight bracket games, including a 25-15 win over Vegas Strong (NV) in the championship game.

WPI/Wilson & Sons (ID) finished in third place, while Arizona Old School won five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their fourth-place finish.

The 10-team Men’s 50/55 Silver Division included one 50 AA team, one 55 AA team, and eight 55 AAA teams.

Graywolves 55 (NM) made the most out of bracket play, posting a perfect 4-0 record, including a thrilling 13-12 win over Thunderstruck 55 (AZ) in the championship game. Top seed Scrap Iron-Colorado Home Fitness finished in third place, while So Cal Riptide (CA), the lone 55 AA team, had a solid showing, finishing in fourth place.

Horn Softball 55 (CA), and Team Panthers (UT), the lone 50 AA team, each won a pair of games in the elimination side of the bracket, to advance to Championship Sunday.

Summy’s (CA) won the three-team Men’s 60 Major Plus Division, defeating Texas Crush Sixties, 31-24, in the “if” game. Texas Crush Sixties forced the “if” game following a 23-15 win in the championship game. West Coast Water/Vegas Elite (NV) finished in third place.

In the eight-team Men’s 60 Major Division, top seed R & R Rookies (CA) completed an undefeated weekend, going 2-0 in seeding to earn the No. 1 seed, before winning four straight bracket games, including a 21-14 win over Last Call (NV) in the championship game. No. 2 seed Samurai (CA) finished in third place after winning a pair of games in the elimination side of the bracket, before falling in the third-place game.

Sin City Raiders (NV) won the crowded 16-team Men’s 60 AAA Division, posting a perfect 5-0 record in bracket play, including a 26-14 win over Senior Bend Elks (OR) in the championship game. Senior Bend Elks fell to Sin City Raiders earlier in the bracket 27-17 to drop down into the elimination side the bracket. Senior Bend Elks rebounded with three straight wins to punch its ticket into the championship game.

Top seed Weakened Warriors (CA) finished in third place, while Sidewinders (AZ) rounded out the top four finishers, after making a strong surge through the elimination side of the bracket with four straight wins.

In the six-team Men’s 60 AA Division, the top two seeds squared off in the final game, as Los Vatos Viejos (AZ) defeated top seed Family (NV) 24-20 in the championship game, to force the “if” game. Family edged out Los Vatos Viejos earlier in the bracket 17-16 to advance to the championship game. Los Vatos Viejos reached the championship game via its 17-16 win over Lights Out (CA) in the third-place game.

In the winner-take-all “if” game, Family defeated Los Vatos Viejos 21-12.