Someday, what the Little League World Series champions from West O'ahu accomplished yesterday afternoon in South Williamsport, Pa., will sink into each and every one of them.

Twenty years from now, maybe 10 or even five, they'll look back at their nationally televised, 7-6 extra-inning victory over Curacao — the 2004 world champions — before 25,506 at Lamade Stadium and they'll understand what the victory meant.

World champions, yes. But so much more, too.

The boys from 'Ewa Beach and Waipahu, all 11- and 12-year-olds, put a state on their collective shoulders yesterday and represented it with pride and grit. As Michael Memea nailed his game-winning homer in the bottom of the seventh and teammates waited at home plate to embrace him, thousands of people around O'ahu — and millions more watched worldwide — celebrated the wild victory.

"We all blue-collar workers," said Darwin Nazarino, a 28-year-old preschool teacher who was watching the game on TV at a party. "We love our sports, it gets us through. It (the victory) brings the community and the families together. It gives a little bit hope that wherever you from, whatever you do, if you work hard, it can happen."

Nazarino was one of more than 60 friends and family members of West O'ahu coach Layton Aliviado and others on the team who gathered at Aliviado's house in 'Ewa Beach to watch the game on big-screen TV. A tent city sprouted up in the Aliviado's driveway, and the emotions and spirits were flowing well before the first pitch was thrown shortly after 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

It no way was your typical youth baseball game.

"My husband was even cheering for you in Iraq," wrote Suehisa-Mueller, one of hundreds of well-wishers who left messages on The Advertiser's Web site congratulating the team. "He would call me to get daily updates on how you guys were doing. You have lifted the spirits of many in ways you do not know. Well done, young men, let this be the first in many accomplishments along your path. Thank you to the coaches and parents for their undying support. You make it possible for them to dream."

The players celebrated the victory by going swimming.

"It's cold but it feels good to be in the water again," said Michael Memea, relishing a relaxing moment away from baseball and thoughts of his game-winning home run. "There can't be any other better feeling. I felt so excited. When I did it, I thought about my mom because I love her and she came here (to Williamsport)."

Terry Memea, a first-grade teacher at Holomua Elementary School in 'Ewa and former professional hula dancer, said when her son hit the ball, "I sat down and cried. He was struggling for three games. I thought, 'OK, there's no outs and Vonn (Fe'ao) and Quentin (Guevara) are coming up so if he could just get on base.' When I heard it, I knew it was gone. The sound was so sweet."

The victory swim was the first time the players had swam since they won the state tournament in Hilo, nearly a month ago.

Since then they've been on the road, galvanizing a team and a community. Several friends and family members made the trip to Pennsylvania to watch the team, many putting jobs on hold and traveling straight from the regionals in San Bernardino, Calif., to Williamsport. The parents of Sheyne Baniaga, one of the team's top hitters, had their trip paid for by family friends who insisted they be at the games. Sheyne responded with a two-run homer, the only hit in a 2-0 victory over Lafayette, La., in the U.S. semifinals.

"We been away almost a month but it was worth it," said Layson "Kaeo" Aliviado. "The coaches worked us hard and it paid off. Curacao, I think, was the best game we ever played."

So they swam as a reward.

"There's a little mist and fog but it doesn't matter to them," team mother Debra "Debbie" Aliviado said in a telephone interview from the eight-bedroom home of Michael and Carol Hughes in Montoursville, Pa., where more than 20 of the support group from Hawai'i has been staying since Aug. 18.

"Swimming," Aliviado observed, "is a treat for them."

Ki'ilani Guevara, 31, mother of yesterday's starting pitcher Quentin Guevara, was rushing her family to the Aliviado house yesterday morning when her husband called from Williamsport to tell her their son was starting.

"As soon as I heard I had chicken skin," she said, as Quentin's two brothers and sister ran around her ankles. "They did it. They came from behind and they did it. That shows how hard they wanted it. They wanted their dream."

The raucous crowd paced and yelled from first pitch to final out. Many in the throng expressed pride in the way the team represented the ideals of West O'ahu.

Rudy Domogsac, the great uncle of first baseman Layson Aliviado, was cheering so much at the game that he lost his voice.

"Truthfully, I thought that they were going to make it all these years," Domogsac said. "I had faith in them and that's why I came up."

Head coach Layton Aliviado, who returns to his job as a large vehicle operator for the Postal Service tomorrow, admits he wasn't sure how his team would react to being behind in a game.

"We've been behind in Cal Ripken games and came back so I thought they could do it," he said. "I just tell them that if you want it, you got to go for it.

"This trip has been unreal. I drained out right now."

Shortstop-pitcher Myron "Kini" Enos doesn't think his team has trailed in a game this season, so being down to Curacao 3-1 in the third inning and 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth and last regulation inning was a new experience.

"One thing Coach (Aliviado) tells us all the time is 'never give up and play hard to the last out,' " Kini said. "Curacao is a great team and they play just like us. But we played hard to the end and it paid off. It feels great to win and mo betta that it is the first (World Series) win for Hawai'i."

Kini added that he was especially happy that Michael Memea won it because he's a perfect hero. "He finally got out of his slump," Kini said. "Even when we were down, he was all pumped up."

First baseman Kaeo said the team's spirit didn't break down when it counted.

"In the sixth inning, we put our heads together and said 'put your hand in if you believe and everybody put their hands in,' " Kaeo said. "After we tied it (at 6-6) we got it back and I really didn't think we could lose. But I never expect the home run."

As jubilant chaos erupted around him yesterday, Herbert Aliviado smiled and kept his seat while he watched the winning run round the bases.

"I told you they was going make 'em," said the 67-year-old father of West O'ahu's head coach as he folded his hands across his cane. "Never give up. Play hard, work hard. I feel very proud."

Genevieve Seguirant-Llanes, 59, watched her grandson, Myron "Kini" Enos Jr., hit a home run yesterday, and after the game she joined the throng of celebrating well-wishers that spilled out into the street.

"An 'Ewa Beach team went up there and won. They won every single game (in the Little League World Series and the regional in San Bernardino)," she said, her eyes rimmed with tears. "The Lord is with us."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com and Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.