The players responded with, at best, a low-key celebration after completing their undefeated (6-0) run through the 10-team field and dragging off the huge trophy.

"It's just their personality," O'ahu manager Eric Kadooka said of his players. "It's so hard to think you really did it. I think what they accomplished will hit them in the next week or so. I1m sure, deep inside, this is an experience they will never forget. They1re just happy.2

them in the next week or so. I'm sure, deep inside, this is an experience they will never forget. They're just happy."

A similar reaction from Kadooka was understandable. He directed O'ahu teams to World Series titles in 1986 (13-year-olds), 1988 (ages 13 to 15) and 2001 (ages 13 to 15).

"They are all the same, so great," Kadooka graciously said. "It's just a great experience. This one is a little special because they are all Punahou (School) kids."

O'ahu left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings. And the game was scoreless until Matthew Suiter's two-out single in the top of the fourth drove in Landen Taga, who had walked and stolen second base.

"I just wanted to drive him in," Suiter said. "But I thought we would need more."

As it turned out, one run was enough as Reece Kiriu pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks. Kiriu, who also batted 3 for 5, dominated after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.

Members of the O'ahu team proudly pose with the flag declaring them the 2004 Babe Ruth World Series champions.

"Just a regular game," Kiriu said with a shrug. "Everything was working. Getting out of the fifth inning was huge; I shut them down the rest of the game."

O'ahu converted three Harris Township errors into five unearned runs in the fifth. During the uprising, O'ahu schooled the Indiana team with Cameron Lee's suicide squeeze bunt and a successful delayed double steal that enabled third baseman Harrison Ishida Jr. to steal home.

"We were just trying to get some runs early," Kadooka said. "And our pitcher did excellent. He kept throwing a lot of strikes, kept us in the game."

Kiriu and his teammates impressed Harris Township manager Jim Morris.

"He threw a great game," Morris said of Kiriu. "He had enough heat to get it by some of our hitters, and kept us off-balanced.

"Hats off to O'ahu. They are very well-coached, very disciplined. Are they beatable? Yes. But they know that, and that's why they play so hard. It's a team effort with them all the time."

O'ahu pitcher/shortstop Paul Snieder was the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

"This is my first World Series; this is really great," Snieder said with a trace of excitement. "I'm really happy; this is a great honor to get. I didn't feel I played that well. I did at the beginning, but my bat slipped some. I was able to put the ball in play, and they made errors."

Snieder was joined on the All-World Series team by teammates Kiriu, Ishida and Josh Bninski. Suiter, Brian Lares and Zachary Kometani were named to the All-Defensive unit.

Maybe the excitement of a World Series title stirred during O'ahu's 12-hour return flight. (The team is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu today at 4:53 p.m. on United Airlines flight 57 from Los Angeles).

"We came here to win it," Snieder said. "We accomplished our goal."

O'ahu roster: Joshua Bninski, Zachary Coronas, HarrisonÊIshida, Jr., Reece Kiriu, Zachary Kometani, Geoffrey Kunita, Cameron Lee, Paul Snieder, Matthew Suiter, Landen Taga, Travis Tanaka, Evan Yamamoto. Manager: Coach Eric Kadooka. Coaches: Nolan Terayama, Kyle Shimabukuro.

• O'ahu 000 152 0—8 10 1
• Harris 000 000 0—0 3 5

W—Reece Kiriu; L—Ryan Kaczmarski.