Baseball diary: 'Waipi'o did Hawai'i proud'

For the first time since 1988, Hawai'i had a representative at the Little League World Series for 11- and 12-year-olds in South 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

They got over the loss.

Today they're fine.

I told them there are only two winners who are going to come out of here. I told them, one is them because they won their last game; the other will be the World Series champion.

You and World Series champion are the only ones who will walk out of this place winning their last game.

Many of the players skipped breakfast and slept in.

When they got up, some did study hall; some went to the rec center until lunch.

It was a relaxed day, no practice, no game.

They kicked back, swam, traded pins.

After dinner, everyone started packing because we leave 3:30 in the morning.

We're walking out of here winners.

The support we picked up along the way was in the thousands. And not just from Hawai'i.

I think we did Hawai'i proud. I think we did the North Region proud; the West Region proud.

It's really been great.

This is the best place you can be when you're in Little League.