LAS VEGAS — A Kaua’i softball team captured the Las Vegas Senior Softball Association World Masters 60-plus AA title on Sept. 18. In a dramatic finish that came down to the final inning, Kaua‘i’s Nogi’s defeated Romano’s Realty of Las
LAS VEGAS — A Kaua’i softball team captured the Las Vegas Senior Softball Association World Masters 60-plus AA title on Sept. 18.
In a dramatic finish that came down to the final inning, Kaua‘i’s Nogi’s defeated Romano’s Realty of Las Vegas to take the title for 2011.
The Nogi’s moved from the lowest seed to take the championship by beating two teams, then Romano’s in the elimination round, and then faced Romano’s twice in the double elimination play.
In that first Romano’s game, Nogi’s built a seven run lead heading into the final frame. But Romano’s refused to quit, and they put on a hitting clinic to score 9 runs and take the lead. Then in the bottom seventh inning, Gary Venturini pinch hit for Frank Bukoski and led off with a walk. Team coach Dwight Fujii followed with a line shot to right, and then Guy Ruiz’ sac fly scored Venturini. Tom Ganong launched a blast to deep right center scoring Fujii. After a walk to Tony Matsumura, Skip Caycayon ripped the ball down third base to score the winning run for the Nogi’s. The final score was 27 – 26.
In the second game, with the Nogi’s now needing only one victory to clinch the tourney, and Romano’s needing two, the Nogi’s bats fell silent for six innings. In the seventh, trailing by eight runs, they put streaked to score seven runs. But the final out came with the tying run on third, and the Nogi’s fell short 16 – 15.
The sudden death final game saw Romano’s grab the early lead as Nogi’s hitters again went silent, and after three innings, the Kauai team trailed 10 – 4. But the Nogi’s defense stepped up and held Romano’s scoreless for two innings. That opened a window for the offense and the Nogi’s led 14 – 10 going into the bottom sixth. But Romano’s hitters, who had been coming from behind all tourney, put together a four run rally to tie the game at 14 with one inning to go.
With the tournament on the line, Nogi’s Bukoski led off the top seventh with a hard shot down the first base line for a triple. Fujii followed with an infield hit, then Guy Ruiz sent a line drive to center to score John Patt running for Bukoski. That opened the gates for the Nogi’s. After one out, they put together consecutive hits by Tony Matsumura, Venturini, Larry Ephan, and Mel Yamase. Paul Silva, Rick Ramones and Jack Blackstad then continued the attack which saw 14 batters tally nine runs.
The gallant Romano’s tried to come back as they had several times before. But they produced only two runs, crowning the Nogi’s the tournament champions with the final score, Nogis’ 23, Romanos’ 16.
Ruiz and Tom Midstokke made several key defensive plays for Nogi’s throughout the tournament. Ronnie Matsumura and Miles Tone also contributed to the team effort.
Kaua’i senior softball players compete against each other in league play from Feb. to July. But after league season, players from various teams join together to form teams that represent Kaua’i in Mainland tournaments. Kaua’i players will compete in the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, UT in Oct., in the Winter World Tournament in Las Vegas in Nov., and will host the East Kauai (McCloskey) tournament in Kapa‘a in Nov.
The Kaua‘i senior 65 and up team also took home a tournament victory the same week the Nogi’s struck gold.
