Waipi'o All-Stars home after road trip of lifetime
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By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
Call it a banner night for the comeback kids from Waipi'o.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Waipi'o Little League All-Stars were safe at home last night after a month of spectacular victories on the road in the Little League regionals and World Series.
The 2002 Waipi'o All-Star Team was mobbed by family, fans and media upon their arrival at Honolulu International Airport last night. The team went 2-1 at the Little League World Series, but was eliminated by a tiebreaker.
The team of 11- and 12-year-olds, which won the hearts of Hawai'i by winning three out of their last four Little League tournament games in the final inning on national TV, arrived to a crowd of about 100 last night at Honolulu International Airport.
The 9 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 at 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., only to be eliminated because of a tiebreaker rule.
Waipi'o's two World Series victories came on last-inning home runs by Travis Jones.
Despite the bittersweet end to the season, the banners and signs were exuberant, hailing the group as champions for being the first Hawai'i team to reach the World Series since 1988.
"This was a very special team," a hoarse but proud coach Clyde Tanabe said. "They played and bonded together and picked each other up when they needed to. I think the players represented Hawai'i well."
Clyde's son, Kurt, also celebrated his 13th birthday yesterday. Kurt was the winning pitcher in Waipi'o's World Series victories.
"This is great," said Kurt, wearing lei and a gold medal given to all team members. "It doesn't get better than this."
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
But Tanabe and other players agreed with the line from "The Wizard of Oz" that "there's no place like home" and said they were ready to sleep in their own beds and eat rice and Spam again.
Kelsey Outram, who suffered a broken hand when he was beaned in the first game, show off his cast.
Among those waiting for the team's return was Susan Jones, who flew to Pennsylvania to watch her son, Travis, the slugging hero in Waipi'o's victories.
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."
Travis downplayed his home run swings.
"It felt good," he said with a shy grin, slightly embarrassed by all the news cameras focused on him. "I'm just glad the team won."
The Waipi'o team can also expect a shower of accolades from government officials and community groups in the next few months. Waipi'o Little League president Troy Ogasawara said the governor's office and area state lawmakers have already inquired about honoring the team, and area City Councilwoman Darrlyn Bunda said the team will be recognized by the Council next month.
The team has been invited to a Saturday celebration at Hans L'Orange field in Waipahu, and the Waipi'o Little League is planning a huge celebration of its own next month.
At a time when Major League Baseball appears to be on the verge of a strike, Ogasawara said coach Tanabe and his players reflected the true spirit of baseball: giving it their all, but having fun as well.
"Dad just kept telling us to have fun, that it didn't matter if we came up short," Kurt Tanabe said. "He said no matter what, just keep trying and battle back to the end."
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2429.
