Waipi'o Little Leaguers win but see season end
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| Troy Ogasawara, right, president of Waipi'o Little League, celebrates as the Waipi'o Northwest regional champions defeat Webb City, Mo., 2-1. Friends and relatives gathered at the Waikele Golf Course clubhouse to watch the game on ESPN yesterday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
| • | Waipi'o's dramatic win not enough to advance |
| • | 'I wanted us to try our best' |
| • | Send the Waipi'o Little League baseball team your best wishes to online@honoluluadvertiser.com, then read the greetings. |
By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer
When it was over yesterday, teary-eyed fans of the Waipi'o All-Stars whooped with joy, jumped out of their seats and hugged as Waipi'o won its final game in the Little League World Series on another dramatic game-winning home run by Travis Jones.
But it was a bittersweet ending. While the 11- and 12-year-old Hawai'i kids defeated the Midwest team from Webb City, Mo., 2-1, their championship journey to South Williamsport, Pa., was over.
Even though the team failed to qualify for the next round, their parents couldn't be prouder.
Associated Press
"They are eliminated, but that doesn't matter at this point," said Ken Jones, Travis' father. "We are so proud of them. I'm still very, very excited. This team keeps surprising us."
Teammates hug Travis Jones after he hit a two-run homer to defeat Webb City, Mo., 2-1 in Waipi'o's Little League World Series game yesterday in South Williamsport, Pa. The team failed to qualify for the next round and is headed home.
Alice Macanas, whose 12-year-old, Dominic Macanas, is an outfielder, said the kids had to deal with a crazy travel schedule and being away from home for almost three weeks, but they triumphed.
"They played their best, and they didn't give up," Macanas said as she wiped tears from her cheeks moments after the victory. "I miss them terribly and can't wait for them to come home. It was a wonderful ending."
More than 30 family and friends showed up at the Waikele Golf Course clubhouse to watch ESPN and cheer on the 13 boys and one girl who went so far.
"It was important for us to get together, because maybe (they) can feel us being positive," Macanas said. "And it's better than watching it at home by yourself, because we try to support each other, too."
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Things got a little tense when the team was down 1-0 going into the sixth inning, but Marcus Moises, father of Isaac Moises, said he knew the kids would come back to win the game.
Gail Higa of Waipi'o could barely stand the tension in the final inning, when Waipi'o was down 1-0 to Webb City. Waipi'o catcher Travis Jones hit a game-winning, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
"That's the good thing about them," Moises said. "They know that you should go as far as you can, and they did."
Wayne Miyasato, manager of one of the three teams from which the 14 Waipi'o All-Stars were selected, said, "Nobody expected Waipi'o to go this far, but the whole team just stuck together."
Waipi'o finished with a 2-1 record, as did two other teams, but didn't advance to the national semifinals because they gave up more runs than the other teams.
"No matter what happened, they're all champions," said Troy Ogasawara, Waipi'o's Little League Team president.
It is the second time the Waipi'o team has played in the regionals, and the first time they reached the Little League World Series. The last team from Hawai'i to reach Williamsport was Pearl City in 1988.
"This is a big moment for Wai-pi'o," Ogasawara said. "To even get to the Little League World Series is a tremendous accomplishment. They're putting Waipi'o on the map."
Reach Shayna Coleon at scoleon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8004.
