VFW softball team celebrates 35 years and latest championship

The Valley Stream Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1790 softball team won the Valley Stream Men’s Softball League championship on Aug. 9, which means the post has won almost half of the tournaments it has played since the league started giving out trophies in 1980.

Manager Charlie Diana called the series “thrilling,” with his team winning its first game, losing the second and coming back to win the third.

“Everyone helped with big hits and big plays in the field,” said Diana, who hit a homerun that helped secure the final victory. At 65, he is the team’s oldest member.

Diana gave credit to shortstop Matt Solon, who missed the last game but helped the team win the tournament’s first round one week earlier with a triple play.

The VFW team was formed in 1978, but started counting its championships when the league began awarding trophies two years later.