TV interviews add to excitement
By Clyde Tanabe
Special to The Advertiser
Waipi'o will play Worcester, Mass., today in the first game of the opening round-robin.
Clyde Tanabe, 47, who has been coaching youth baseball for 17 years, is Waipi'o's manager. His son Kurt, 12, is a member of the team.
Tanabe agreed to share his thoughts with Advertiser readers in a daily diary during the World Series.
| • | Little League World Series
At Williamsport, Pa. POOL PLAY ROUND Waipi'o (Northwest Champ) is in Pool A with New England (Worcester, Mass), Midwest (Webb City, Mo.), and Southwest (Fort Worth, Texas) Games involving Waipi'o: Today New England (Worcester, Mass.) vs. Northwest (Waipi'o), 10 a.m. Hawai'i time, ESPN2, Little League Volunteer Stadium Tomorrow Day off Sunday, Aug. 18 Northwest (Waipi'o) vs. Southwest (Fort Worth, Texas), 9 a.m., ESPN, Howard J. Lamade Stadium Monday, Aug. 19 Midwest (Web City, Mo.) vs. Northwest (Waipi'o), 2 p.m., ESPN, Howard J. Lamade Stadium Tuesday, Aug. 20 Day off; top two teams advance to single-elimination SINGLE ELIMINATION ROUND Wednesday, Aug. 21 International Semifinal (first-place team in Pool D vs. second-place team in Pool C), 10 a.m. Hawai'i time, ESPN, Howard J. Lamade Stadium United States Semifinal (first-place team in Pool B vs. second-place team in Pool A), 1 p.m., Hawai'i time, ESPN2, Howard J. Lamade Stadium Thursday, Aug. 22 International Semifinal (first-place team in Pool C vs. second-place team in Pool D), 9:30 a.m., Hawai'i time, ESPN2, Howard J. Lamade Stadium United States Semifinal (first-place team in Pool A vs. second-place team in Pool B), 1 p.m., Hawai'i time, ESPN, Howard J. Lamade Stadium Friday, Aug. 23 Open Date Saturday, Aug. 24 International Championship, 9 a.m., Hawai'i time, ESPN; United States Championship, 1:30 p.m., Hawai'i time, ABC, both at Howard J. Lamade Stadium Sunday, Aug. 25 Consolation Game, U.S. Runner-Up vs. International Runner-Up, 6 a.m., Hawai'i time World Series Championship, 12:30 p.m., Hawai'i time, ABC, Howard J. Lamade Stadium NOTE: This schedule is subject to change. For the latest updates, visit www.littleleague.org. Waipi'o roster
Manager: Clyde Tanabe Coaches: Delbert Macanas, Gordon Oshiro Online cheering Send the team your best wishes and "i mua" to online@honolulu advertiser.com and we'll post them on our Web site at honoluluadvertiser.com |
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After breakfast we had batting practice. We got the batting cages under Volunteer Stadium. There are two batting cages underneath the stadium right by the dugout, and there's also a warmup mound for the pitchers underneath. It was beautiful. Volunteer Stadium was built last year, it's immaculate. That's where we will be playing New England (Worcester, Mass.) tomorrow.
After practice, we had lunch. The food (at the Little League compound) has been pretty good. They have bacon and eggs for breakfast... but no rice. We kind of miss the rice ... mostly potatoes and hash browns. But the selection is good, take what you want.
After lunch we had media day. We went to the main building of the (Little League) complex, and had to take pictures for three different stations — team and individual. ESPN was there. We had filled out a questionnaire for them earlier and they talked to each kid about their answers.
Finally, we got to the last (media) room and ABC was there. They filmed all the kids, but I don't know what they said. The players were taken into a sound-proof room. They had to give their name and what position they played. It was anywhere from a couple of minutes to 5 minutes for each player. The kids were high about that — ABC TV.
It took about 2 1/2 hours to finish everything up. I wanted to go and have fielding practice, but because they took so long ... I promised the players they could swim a little while, so I cut off afternoon practice and told them to go out to swim and relax.
An hour later, they (Little League organizers) had a one hour barbecue planned for everybody — the team and parents.
As of this time, three parents are with us, but I know some more are flying up tomorrow. The parents also get about an hour and a half of visitation (at the compound where the teams are staying) a day, and they'll be able to see the players after the games.
Aina rejoins her team
Our host from San Bernardino came up today. He was a great host — Ray Rucker. He flew all the way at his own expense. He said he'd never come here. He said he only would have come if one of the teams he hosted made it. He came to cheer for us.
Sanoe (Aina, the only girl on the team) showed up about 12:30 so she got to take pictures. She was so excited. She was at the Hershey's track meet. I think she came in fourth in the softball throw. Sanoe played three games for us at the regionals, then flew back to Honolulu and then flew to Hershey (Pa.) for the meet. She flew back to Honolulu, and she was trying to get back to (San Bernardino) for the championship game. She couldn't so she watched it at home on TV. She called up to see if she could join us (in Williamsport), but I had to have a sit down with her and tell her what her role was ... it cannot be what it was before. She was our first baseman and No. 4 batter. She is good. She'll have to start on the bench. But rules are rules.
They have a 9 p.m. rootbeer float night at the rec room tonight and then it'll be 10 lights out.
We've been hanging around with Northern California (Aptos, Calif.) — Mark Eichorn (former major league pitcher) is a coach, and Russia and Guam are staying right next to us.
The mood is upbeat, they're excited after today's media outing. We're ready to play, upbeat, confident.
They're not intimidated at all (by the size of the other teams). Hilo had a really big team in states. At San Bernardino they were all big.
Kentucky is the team to beat. They have the hitting and defense.
