'If we win today, we still have a chance'

Clyde Tanabe, 47, 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.

By Clyde Tanabe
Special to The Advertiser

We were supposed to go to the Williamsport Little League Museum this morning. One of the guys — they're called "uncles" — set it up, but they forgot the museum doesn't open until 12 o'clock (noon). We had a 3 o'clock game and I didn't want (our players) to go up there at 12. So basically, the kids came back and we did study hall again from 10 to 12.

We had to rush through lunch because we had a 1 o'clock practice before the game. They want us to be at the game 45 minutes ahead of time so ESPN and ABC can do their TV (interviews).

We hit in the cage, but a couple of our boys got interviewed by The Associated Press, which was really nice. They wanted to do (a story) about our study halls, so I picked some of the guys who don't get to play much so they can get their names in the paper. That was pretty neat.

Michael Valdez (Fort Worth's pitcher who beat Waipi'o with a one-hitter) had a good fastball, but was nothing like the guy we faced the other day (from Worcester, Mass.). We were just hitting the ball at people. The guy (from Worcester) topped out at 75, 78 miles per hour. This guy (Valdez) was lucky to hit the high 60s.

(Fort Worth) just hit the ball real well.

(A four-run second inning put Waipi'o down, 5-0.)

They were still upbeat. I tell them to forget about (the four-run inning). We're down five with five innings to go to catch up. We just have to break it into small chunks and chip away at the lead and hope our pitching would hold them the rest of the way. We were pretty confident we would chip away at that lead.

(Waipi'o had the bases loaded with one out in its final at-bat before the game ended 8-0 on a double play.)

At that point (with the bases loaded), I still didn't think we could win the game, but I thought we'd score some runs at that point.

They were a little down, but I told them this is only one game. If we win (today), we still have a chance at the semifinals.

They ate dinner and met their parents outside the gate. They mingled with their parents for a while.

They're in the pool right now (about 7 p.m. EST). Everybody (else) is out of the pool, so they have the whole pool for themselves. They're all in there having a good time.

I don't know what kind of night it is tonight. They had a sundae night the other night. It might be hot fudge tonight, I don't know. They're going to the rec center at 9 o'clock. There is some kind of special every night.

Everybody (from other teams) talks to (our team), I guess because they don't see Hawai'i too much. With the Venezuela kids (who don't speak English), they make hand signs (to communicate). It's nice.

Since we have an 8 o'clock (p.m.) game (today), we can sleep in a little.

After the game, I really felt tired. I don't feel that good. I'm not sick or anything, but I think this thing is catching up to me. I feel mentally exhausted. I just want to shut down my body at this point. I don't know if it's jet lag or the things going on with the games. It's just emotionally draining.