HENDERSON, NV - The USSSA sanctioned ‘B’ NIT was held recently at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex in Henderson, Nevada. Line Drives Softball Club of Las Vegas continued their improved tournament play and captured top honors in this event.

Line Drives has undergone roster changes as Manager Mike Sansone recently released two team members and brought in two new roster additions. The changes have resulted in an 180º turnaround for Line Drives in tournament play. Following a dismal start to the season (5 wins and 12 losses in six tournaments) Line Drives has rebounded with a 9-3 record in their last two tourneys.

Line Drives faced stiff competition in this ‘B’ division event as teams from Arizona, California, Nevada and Ohio competed for this prestigious title.

Line Drives´ first game was against RMS (AZ), a solid ‘B’ squad with great pitching. This game saw the offense of Line Drives beat down RMS 21-10. Next up was The Cutters, the number one ranked team in the Las Vegas ‘C’ division. Line Drives were able to edge out a 17-12 win and move into the winner’s bracket finals. There they met up against tournament favorite West Coast Synergy. Synergy was no match as Line Drives pounded out a decisive 23-10 victory and advanced into the championship title game where they would have to beat Synergy a second time to lay claim to the first place trophy and a berth to the nationals in Orlando, FL for the USSSA ‘B’ World Series.

West Coast Synergy needed two straight wins and it looked like an ‘IF’ game was in the cards. Synergy took an 18-13 lead in the last inning but Line Drives had one last charge in them. They pushed across six runs and in dramatic fashion squeaked out a 19-18 win and took the championship.

Line Drives’ Mike Burbank was named tournament MVP. All tournaments selections went to Mike Mauntel, Nick Sansone, Ken Kato, Ollie Olbertson, Bobby Kokowski, Tim Green, Steve DeAngelis, Tony Wallace, Jose Gomez and Troy Jenkins.