Baseball diary: 'I wanted us to try our best'

For the first time since 1988, Hawai'i had a representative at the Little League World Series for 11- and 12-year-olds in Williamsport, Pa. Clyde Tanabe, 47, is Waipi'o's manager. He agreed to share his thoughts with Advertiser readers in a daily diary during the World Series.

By Clyde Tanabe
Special to The Advertiser

After breakfast we went to the (Little League Museum) and we got to see the history of the Little League.

We saw all kinds of things, such as autograph baseballs signed by players such as Nolan Ryan who played Little League.

The kids had a good time.

We spent a couple hours there before coming back for lunch.

We had them relax, though a lot went to the rec center to play video games and trade pins.

We had study hall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. then went to the batting cages. The kids hit until 5:30.

The coaches went to watch the (Fort Worth, Texas vs. Worcester, Mass.) game, figuring out what it would take to advance.

We figured out if Texas scored three runs (or lost by three runs instead of 6-0), they (Fort Worth) would be in first.

(In case of a three-way tie, the first tiebreaker is runs allowed per innings played defense; the second tiebreaker is head-to-head between the two remaining teams.)

Because of the outcome, we knew we were done already.

The outcome of (our game against Webb City) didn't matter.

I wasn't planning to tell them until after the game. (But it was already announced on ESPN that Waipi'o would not advance.)

I didn't want to tell them because I wanted us to try our best to the very end and at least try to win the game.

I don't know when we'll return. We can stay until Sunday when the final game is over, or we can move out anytime.