2010 LVSSA Las Vegas Senior Softball Tournament - Family Stones 55's AA Finished in Second Place.

Aloha and hello from Las Vegas. The weather here is a hot 104 degrees and the weatherman is predicting thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday. I am here again for the LVSSA Tournament with 88 teams participating from the 50's to the 80's. This tournament runs from August 27-29, with the Championship game being held on Sunday. Best of luck to our Hawaii teams and to the 55's. Go get 'em!!!!!! Last year, I covered the Family Stones 50's, and it was a rough finish, but they gave it their all. This year, I'll be covering the 55's who played two games today (Friday). In the first game against the Sonic Blast, the Stones were behind by one run, but some how the Sonics squeaked by in the end to take the game 15-14 over the 55's Family Stones. In the second game against the Tucson Cactus from Arizona, it was a little sticky at times, like stepping on cactus, but the 55's Family Stones Eddie Han (photo above) floated through the air more than once and stopped those fly balls into his right field with super stretched arms to seal the second game with a final score of 16-14. Awesome job Eddie Han and team 55's.

The tournament continued Saturday, at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex in Henderson, and the 55's played the Fresh Poki team from Maui who won two games on Friday against the Tucson Cactus and Sonics. The 55's took the lead from the start and finished 19-9 over Fresh Poki. In the afternoon, during the course of elimination playoffs, the 55's had to play the Fresh Poki team again, and it was a battle to the finish. The teams were tied and had to go into international rules. Support on both sides was really loud, but in the end, the Fresh Poki team from Maui came from behind and ended the game 21-20.

It's Sunday, the final Championship day, and the Family Stones 55's started their elimination games by winning the first two, 19-5 over the Tucson Cactus and 17-16 over the Fresh Poki team from Maui. The third game ended their streak when the Sonic Blast ran ahead from the start and finished 21-16 over the Family Stones 55's. Congratulations to all players, and especially to Coach Darryl Samura "Thumper," and the 55's who invited me this year to cover and photo shoot their tournament. Special recognition to John Barinobis, Grant Sugai, Willie McMillan, George Meyer, Howard Manoiki and Eddie Han . "Click here to see more photos,"