honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:07 p.m., Sunday, August 24, 2008

WAIPI'O IS WORLD CHAMPION

 •  Little League game box score

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Waipi‘o's Pikai Winchester carries the Hawai‘i flag as his team takes a victory lap around Lamade Stadium after a 12-3 win over Matamoros, Mexico, in the Little League World Series championship baseball game.

GENE J. PUSKAR | Associated Press

spacer spacer

COMING HOME

The team is scheduled to come back on Continental Flight 15, arriving at Honolulu International Airport at 6:10 p.m. on Monday.

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Waipi‘o's Caleb Duhay pitches in the first inning against Matamoros, Mexico, during the championship baseball game of the Little League World Series.

CAROLYN KASTER | Associated Press

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Parents react to a Waipi'o home run in the second inning by Tanner Tokunaga.

RALPH WILSON | Special to The Advertiser

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Waipi‘o right fielder Iolana Akau makes a diving catch in the fifth inning on a ball hit by Matamoros, Mexico's Eduardo Rodriguez during the championship baseball game of the Little League World Series.

CAROLYN KASTER | Associated Press

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Matamoros, Mexico's Jose Rodriguez , right, greets Waipi‘o's Keelen Obedoza as they meet after their championship baseball game of the Little League World Series.

CAROLYN KASTER | Associated Press

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Waipi‘o takes a victory lap around Lamade Stadium after winning the championship baseball game of the Little League World Series.

CAROLYN KASTER | Associated Press

spacer spacer

Underdog but undaunted Waipi'o scored in every inning to whip Mexico, 12-3, today to win the Little League World Series championship in South Williamsport, Pa.

"You guys are world champs, world champs baby!" coach Timo Donahue told his players immediately after the final out, recorded with his son, Christian "C-Boy," on the mound.

"It felt really good to be the world champions especially to make the last out," said Tanner Tokunaga, who hit two home runs.

It was a satisfying outcome for the Waipi'o team, which was not talked about as one of the favorite teams in this oldest and most famous youth baseball tournaments. This Little League age group (11-13 year olds) started in 1947 and first received national TV coverage in 1953.

"I honestly feel at this point and time they don't realize what they did today," Donahue said. "I think that once they step on the island then I think that's when it's going to hit them. I'm sure they're all getting phone calls and these guys are into text messaging. I think it's going to hit them later. Even for myself, it seems surreal."

It is the second time since 2005 that a team from Hawai'i is the world champion. West O'ahu became the first team from Hawai'i to win the title by beating Curacao. Waipi'o is the 10th Hawai'i team to reach this World Series. Another Waipi'o team also played in this event in 2002.

Waipi'o scored one run in the first, two in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth, four in the fifth inning and one in the sixth to make the victory look easy.

Iolana Akau, playing despite a hairline fracture of his left elbow sustained in the first game of the series, homered and made a diving catch in right field to save a run.

"I did come out with a rough start but when I came back, I knew I was going to come back and help the team," Akau said.

Caleb Duhay shut down Mexico, allowing three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings against a team that was averaging eight runs a game.

"(I just wanted) to throw strikes today and hopefully get the outs," Duhay said. "Today I felt really confident. I had all my pitches."

Waipi'o batted first and immediately put the heat on Mexico.

"The kids from Hawai'i got a solid start right from the get-go." Mexico manager Gustavo Gomez said through an interpreter. "They're a really good team."

Christian Donahue scored in the first; Tokunaga hit a two-run homer to center in the second, and Duhay scored on a wild pitch in the third.

In the fourth, Waipi'o scored three runs. Akau homered to center, Kainoa Fong walked with the bases loaded and Keelen Obedoza hit an infield single to first.

In the fifth, Tokunaga homered to lead off. Paris got an RBI ground out, Duhay singled to right for a run. The fourth run scored on a passed ball.

"All along I been saying that it's just a matter of time of time for our bats to wake up," Donahue said. "It seems like once we got here each game one bat would wake up and eventually they all did."

Waipi'o added a run in the sixth on a throwing error.

Donahue opened the game with a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third on Winchester's single to left. Donahue scored when the left fielder misplayed Winchester's ball.

Waipi'o eventually loaded the bases but did not score.

Mexico threatened in the bottom of the first, putting runners on first and third with one out. But Duhay struck out Emmanuel Rodriguez and got Eduardo Rodriguez to ground out to first.

In the second, Jordan Ulep walked and Fong pinch ran. Tokunaga then launched a two-run shot over center for a 3-0 lead.

Jesus Sauceda homered to left in the bottom of the second to make it 3-1.

In the third, Duhay scored on a wild pitch. Waipi'o later loaded the bases but Donahue grounded out to second, just getting edged on the throw to first.

In the bottom of the third, Eduardo Rodriguez looped a two-run single to right with two out. After Carlos Balboa walked, Duhay struck out Sauceda.

"He did a great job," Gomez said of Duhay. "He was a very solid pitcher. Naturally when you have that big of a lead that helps out a lot to throw more comfortably."

Waipi'o reached the title game by scoring a dramatic 7-5 victory over Lake Charles, La., 7-5, to win the U.S. championship Saturday. Waipi'o scored six runs in the top of the sixth and final inning for the victory.

Mexico beat Japan for the International title and advance.

Waipi'o inning by inning

FIRST

Christian Donahue singles up the middle. Donahue takes second on wild pitch. Tanner Tokunaga strikes out looking. Pikai Winchester singles to left. Donahue to third, but scores when leftfielder misplays the ball. Winchester takes second. Iolana Akau strikes out looking. Khade Paris and Caleb Duhay walk to load bases. Jedd Andrade strikes out swinging.

One run, two hits, one errors, three left on base.

SECOND

Jordan Ulep walks. Kainoa Fong pinch runs. Trevor Ling strikes out swinging. Christian Donahue called out on strikes. Tokunaga hits two-run homer to center. Winchester strikes out swining.

Two runs, one hit, no errors, no one left on base.

THIRD

Akau strikes out looking. Paris walks. Duhay reaches first on fielder's choice with runner forced out at second. Ulumano Farm hits roller down third-base line, pitcher throws ball away on an error, putting runners on second and third. Duhay scores on wild pitch. Kainoa Fong walks. Mexico changes pitchers. Keelen Obedoza walks to load bases. Donahue grounds out 4-3 on close play.

One run, no hits, one error, three left on base.

FOURTH

Tokunaga strikes out looking. Winchester grounds out to short. Akau launches homer over center. Paris walks, Duhay walks, Jedd Andrade is hit by pitch. Fong walks to force in a run. Mexico changes pitchers, brings in Klaus Muller. Keelen Obedoza beats out a pop up to first, scoring Duhay for 7-3 lead. Donahue strikes out swinging.

Three runs, two hits, no errors, three left on base.

FIFTH

Tokunaga homers for 8-3 lead. Winchester walks. Akau hit by pitch. Mexico changes pitchers to Eduardo Rodriguez. Runners advance on wild pitch. Paris grounds out to short, scoring a run for 9-3 lead. Duhay singles to right for a run and 10-3 lead. Duhay advances to second on wild pitch. Matt Yap singles to left, runner holds at third with Yap taking second on the throw back to infield. Fong walks to load bases. Duhay scores on passed ball for 11-3 lead. Obedoza strikes out swinging. Donahue strikes out looking.

Four runs, three hits, no errors, two left on base.

SIXTH

Tokunaga strikes out swinging. Winchester singles to center, later advances to second on wild pitch. Akau strikes out looking. Paris reaches first on second baseman's throwing error, allowing Winchester to score for a 12-3 lead. Duhay out.

One run, one hit, one error, one left.