The Waipi'o Little League team left for California on Wednesday, taking uniforms, gloves, bats and huge hopes of trying to repeat a once-in-a-generation feat.

Waipi'o plays in the 11- to 12-year-old age division, which last year showcased a West O'ahu team that became the first from Hawai'i to win the World Series at Williamsport, Pa., and elevated the interest level in this division, which started in 1947.

"I'm pretty excited and everything to represent Hawai'i (in the regional)," said pitcher Marcus Yoshii, a left-hander who has thrown two perfect games this season.

Manager Timo Donahue said what West O'ahu accomplished "is a tough thing to duplicate," adding that the teams are vastly different.

"West O'ahu had a lot of weapons last year," he said. "This team is more balanced. ... (West O'ahu) had guys who were hitting the ball out of the park every time at bat. You're not going to see that from this team. I think that's the major difference there.

"They had five, six pitchers that threw the ball very hard. This team, maybe you have three or four of them throwing the ball like that."

Yoshii said: "They had pretty good hitters so it's not going to be that easy to follow them."

The journey — which begins today in a regional in San Bernardino, Calif. — was made tougher for Waipi'o on two counts: The team lost its home practice field a few weeks ago, and it was switched from the Northwest to the highly competitive West Regional.

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD

The West Regional features teams from Hawai'i, Arizona, Nevada, Northern California, Southern California and Utah. In four of the past five years, a team from California won the regional and advanced to the World Series.

In the past 20 years, six California teams and two Hawai'i teams (West O'ahu and Pearl City in 1988) won U.S. titles. The U.S. winner plays the International winner for the World Series title. Last year, West O'ahu beat Curacao.

No team from the new-look Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming) has won the U.S. title since a team from Kirkland, Wash., won it in 1982.

"It is (tougher) because basically you're playing teams from California and Arizona with good players ... (but) I'm not saying the Northwest doesn't have good players. But ever since I've been a part of Little League, five or six years, Hawai'i has been in the same (Northwest) regional," Donahue said.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

On July 18 — two days before leaving for Makawao, Maui, to play in the state tournament — the players and coaches received a major shock upon arriving for practice at Waipi'o Neighborhood Park.

The backstop and dugouts had been torn down and the infield was fenced off with orange plastic netting.

"We showed up one day and this is what we saw," Donahue said. "It kind of puts us in a bind."

In preparation for the West Regional, Waipi'o held practices between the original diamond and the regulation field on the other end of the park. Donahue said the team held five practices with no diamond.

"We have nothing to play on, but we're still practicing good," center fielder Brian Iida said.

The field is being moved 50 feet toward the center of Waipi'o Neighborhood Park because area residents who live near the field's left-field line complained about baseballs landing on their property.

Waipi'o Little League president Troy Ogasawara said he had requested the City and County of Honolulu start the construction work after the season.

"We had a meeting with the county and told them because we're in the middle of our season we would appreciate it if they could start in August," he said.

Waipi'o held its final practice Tuesday at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

SHOWING HEART

Despite losing its practice field, Waipi'o persevered.

In the state tournament July 21 to 24 on Makawao, Maui, Waipi'o had to win five games in four days to claim the title. In all, it played seven games in six days.

Donahue said he was happy with the way his team played with its back to the wall in the double-elimination tournament.

"In the (state) tournament, being sent into the losers' bracket was actually a test for them and I think they pretty much passed that test," Donahue said. "They stuck together; they never gave up — I can tell you that much."

SOME SAGE ADVICE

Clyde Tanabe, who coached the Waipi'o team that won the regional in San Bernardino, Calif., to advance to the Little League World Series in 2002, spoke with this year's Waipi'o coaches, giving them some pointers.

"He gave us insight on what to expect, playing fields and things to look for there," Donahue said of Tanabe, whose team won two games in the World Series but didn't advance out of pool play. "Where the kids are going to be for housing and that stuff."

Tanabe said his team, which played in the Northwest Regional, also in San Bernardino, played before crowds of "1,500 to a couple thousand" and "six to eight thousand."

He added that more fans likely will show up at the West Regional because there are two California teams.

"I wouldn't say there's pressure, mostly nervousness based on the fact we're playing in front of more people and the hype from it all," Donahue said. "But after a while they'll realize it's the same game they're playing."

what about school?

The World Series this year is Aug. 18 to 27, meaning most of the players would miss nearly a month of school if they advance to the final.

"No, I'm not disappointed because I don't really like school," said Iida, a student at Highlands Intermediate.

Brody Asuncion, Dustyn Cook and Chad Uyehara attend Mililani Middle School.

As far as missed school work, Mililani Middle School principal Roger Kim said, "We will make up grades or course requirements on their return."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.