The "Hawaiians" Softball Team at The 2012 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championship

The "HAWAIIANS" Softball Team @ 2012 LVSSA

Aloha from Las Vegas 2012 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championship which is scheduled to take place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 7, 2012. I'm here covering the "Hawaiians" softball team, and had a chance to speak with Coach Moses "Bradda" Neves who took over the team in 1989.  He related that the Hawaiians was started by Rowland Shibasaki back in the 80's. It started out as a bunch of friends wanting to get together and play softball.  Well one thing lead to another and they all started playing together in not only leagues, but in tournaments.

As the years went by and they all got a little older, they started to slow down and not play as much softball as in their younger years, and by that time Rowland had moved to the mainland with his family. Today, the Hawaiians have four teams participating in the Senior World Softball Tournament. They have a Senior Mens 55+ team, Senior Mens 50+ team, a Senior Mens 40+ team and a Senior Womens 40+ team.  Coach "Bradda" Neves said their motto is to "treat everyone as family" and that's what we do. Their wives and families are very supportive, and because of that, most of them are able to do what they love to do and that's to play ball.

Coach Moses "Bradda" Neves and Paul Allan Kim

On Friday, September 28, 2012 at 9:07am at the Lorenzi Park located at 3333 W. Washington Avenue, Las Vegas, the "Hawaiians" played their first game against "Just-4-Fun" from Arizona.  Just-4-Fun took the lead and held the lead over the Hawaiians with their precise hitting into the 5-6 hole to end the game 9-27.  In their second pool play of the day, the "Hawaiians" played against "Git-R-Done from Southern California who kept up with the Hawaiians, but a heartbreak in the last inning ended the game 19-20 in favor of Git-R-Done. The Hawaiians have always done well in previous LVSSA tournaments, but this year in the elimination bracket, they came so close, and yet it wasn't enough to move on to the next round.  I spoke to Coach Neves after the game and he said "just too many errors." It was disappointing, but hopefully we'll see them in Vegas again next year.  Coach Moses "Bradda" Neves presented the World Masters Championship MVP to Paul Allan Kim (photo above).

The Hawaiians team photo, back row (l/r); Herbert Antolin, Bob E. Durington, Pedero J. Gutierrez Jr., Paul Hookano, David Hoopii, Paul Allan Kim, Bernie Lam Ho, Leighton Lim, Howard Manoiki. Front row (l/r); Felixberto Mendiola, Glen Naone, Ralph Okuhara, Ozzie Ortiz, Curtiss Salcur, Ryan Sumida, Rudolfo Valdez Jr. and Coach Moses "Bradda" Neves.   Other teams that participated during the first session 55/60 (Sept.28-30), Big Island Caretakers (55AAA) Hawaii Masters, Family Stones (55AAA), Hawaiians (55AAA), Family Stones (60AAA), Fresh Poke (60AAA),  Nogi's (60AAA) and Makua Alii (60AA). Action photos, "click here."

Moanalua Na Menehune Strong Defense Holds Off the McKinley Tigers 42-13

The Na Menehune strong defense held off the McKinley Tigers last night at Moanalua High School for their second win in a row.  Last week, the Na Menehune beat the Kaimuki Bull Dogs, 36-0 after losing to Farrington, 28-7 the previous week.  Moanalua's hard work and determination helped them to take the victory over the McKinley Tigers tonight.  

The game started with the Na Menehune kicking off to the Tigers, but a turnover at the 9 yard line turned into a TD when QB #15 Micah Kaneshiro connected with WR #2 Jon-Michael Sharsh (photo above) with 11:15 on the clock.  But hold on to your helmet, within 13 seconds the Tigers came right back when RB #7 Germine Bradley took the kickoff and tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

After this eye opener, the Na Menehune took no chances and their defense just pounded away at the Tigers, adding more TDs by RB #20 Kaleo Yanai, WR #3 Donald Lambert (3-TD) and WR #7 Sheldon Pagba to seal the game 42-13.  For stats "click here." For action photos, "click here."

The McKinley Tigers Spook the Na Menehune By Taking the Lead 5-0

It was another exciting game tonight between the McKinley Tigers and the Moanalua Na Menehune Varsity girls volleyball.  The Tigers came out from the bush and spooked the Na Menehune by taking the lead 5-0 in the first set.  It looked like it might be a long night for the Na Menehune.  The Tigers had some awesome outside hitters, especially (photo below) OH #27 Allyssa Koki who pounced on the Na Menehune.

The chase was on and the Na Menehune caught up to the Tigers 6-6 in the first set.  The Na Menehune's OH #5 Silerolia Gaogao, OH #8 Anuhea Paiva, OH #11 Johanna Kruize, and MB #15 Analise Austin fired everything they had, along with great blocking up front (photo above) with the rest of the team pulling together for the win, 25-20 and 25-14.  The Moanalua JV finished 25-17 and 25-14, and the Blue finished 25-15 and 25-9.  For tonight action photos, "click" here.

The Governors Awsome Running Game Hurdled Pass The Na Menehune 28-7 at the Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium

Last night at the Roosevelt High School Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium, fans from Moanalua and Farrington filled the stadium over flowing the campus grounds as it was also Farrington's Homecoming. Farrington started the game receiving the kick off, RB #25 Abraham Silva (photo above) did some fancy hurdling past the defense of Moanalua and ended up with 200 plus yards for the night and one

TD.

In the first quarter, the Governors put pressure on QB #15, Micah Kaneshiro whose pass was intercepted by DL #1, Breiden Fehoko who took it in for 6.  The Governors female kicker, Shanelle Atabay Carillo, a senior made it 7-0 with 3:10 left in the 1st quarter.  At the end of the 2nd quarter, the score remained 7-0. The Governors other high scoring player for the night was RB #4, Tyler Taumua whose speed seemed to cut like butter through Moanalua's defense.  He ran for over 140 yards and 2 TDs for the night.  In the 3rd quarter,  after a fake handoff, Moanalua QB #15, Micah Kaneshiro (photo above) took it in for a TD, and kicker #88, Landon Ogawa made it 7-14. Interceptions and penaties stalled the Na Menehune for the night.  The final game score ended 28-7. For stats of the game "click here." For action photos, "click here."

Na Menehune Come Back To Take the Rough Riders After Losing to The Govs 21-25 25-18 13-15

It was a tough night for the Na Menehune Varsity girls volleyball team who played against the Farrington Governors on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at the Farrington Gym.  The Governors dominated the game with their power hitting by OH/M #7, Trinity Alualu and M/OH #8, Penina Faumui.  Talk about "pound for pound," you had to be there to see both sides giving it all they had. The Na Menehune lost the first set 21-25, then came back in the second set 25-18, and ultimately lost the third set 13-15.

Tonight at the Moanalua Gym against the Roosevelt Rough Riders, call it what you want, but the game started off a little shaky by the Na Menehune.  The Rough Riders took the lead, but the Na Menehune pulled themselves together, settled down and got back up on their saddle.  They challenged the Rough Riders offensively and defensively and took the game  25-21 and 25-12.  Photo above, OH #5, Silerolla Gaogao.  For more stats "click" here.  Action photos of tonight's game, "click" here.