All-Stars safe at home after thrilling road trip

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Waipi'o Little League All-Stars — Hawai'i's comeback kids — made it home tonight after a month of amazing feats on the road.

The team of 11- and 12-year-olds won the hearts of Hawai'i the past two weeks in the Little League regionals and World Series. The team, which won three out of their last four Little League tournament games in the final inning on national TV, arrived to a crowd tonight at Honolulu International Airport.

The 8:40 p.m. arrival ended what may be the longest road trip in Waipi'o Little League history — 28 out of 31 days spent off-island playing in various championship tournaments.

The team — 13 boys and one girl — won the Northwest Regional in San Bernardino, Calif., then posted a 2-1 record in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., but failed to advance because of a tiebreaker rule.

Waipi'o's two World Series wins came on last-inning heroics by Travis Jones, who hit game-winning homers in both victories.

But despite the bittersweet end to the season, the signs and balloons that greeted them at the airport gave a different story, hailing the group as champions for being the first Hawai'i team to reach the World Series since 1988.

"It doesn't matter to us because for them to get to the World Series was such an accomplishment," said parent Alice Macanas, whose son, Dominic, is a member of the World Series team. "They made us so proud."

Many on the team agreed with the "Wizard of Oz" line that "there's no place like home," and are happy to be sleeping in their own beds, and eating local food staples such as rice and chicken katsu again.

Among those waiting for the team's return was Susan Jones, who flew to Pennsylvania to watch her son, Travis, hit the two game-winning home runs.

Jones believes what the team achieved on the road will finally sink in now that the players have a chance to settle back home.

"I was so excited cheering and watching them win, can you imagine what was going through their minds?" Jones said. "I'm sure we'll be watching the videotape of the game over the next month."

The Waipi'o team can also expect a shower of accolades from government officials and community groups in the next few weeks. Area City Councilwoman Darrlyn Bunda said the team will be honored by the Council next month, and the team has been invited to a celebration Saturday at Hans L'Orange field in Waipahu.

The Waipi'o Little League is planning a huge celebration for the team later this year.

And at a time when Major League Baseball is on the verge of a possible labor strike, Waipi'o little league president Troy Ogasawara said coach Clyde Tanabe and his players reflected the true spirit of baseball: giving it your all, but having fun as well.

"Coach has been telling the team all this time to just have fun, and that's what kept them loose all this time," Ogasawara said. "Playing hard and having fun is what baseball should be all about."

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2429.