In his one and only at-bat yesterday, 5-year-old Honolulu slugger Joshua Miyazawa made the South Lawn of the White House his own Rainbow Stadium, drawing presidential applause with a line drive for a single.

Joshua, who underwent open-heart surgery in May to repair a hole in his heart, was one of 51 young athletes representing the 50 states plus Puerto Rico selected to play in the "Tee Ball on the South Lawn All-Star Game."

Miyazawa was part of the West squad that faced off against the South in one of two unscored games.

Each player batted once and had an opportunity to play in the field.

By the time he took the plate, Joshua already had his game face in place.

"He was really intense," said Jeff Miyazawa, Joshua's father. "He was more intense than in Little League. He really wanted to bat well and make a play."

Drawing on the skills he's developed under coach Sarie Uechi, Joshua made solid contact with the ball, snapping a sharp line drive between the third baseman and center fielder.

Jeff Miyazawa and the rest of Joshua's family watched from the stands, just five seats from President Bush.

"They had told us to treat the president like any other spectator," Miyazawa said. "But between innings, he would walk right in front of us and we got to shake his hand and exchange high fives."

After the game, Joshua and the other players met the president and posed for individual pictures. His older brother, 7-year-old Jonah, also took a picture with first lady Laura Bush.

The family also got to meet several of the baseball legends who were on hand to help with the game.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson served as the game's commissioner. Retired Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg and Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar served as first-base coaches. Third-base coaching duties were handled by retired center fielder and broadcaster Rick Monday and veteran Braves pitcher John Smoltz.

"It all went by super-fast," Miyazawa said. "It was kind of a blur."

The game capped the Miyazawas' wild week in Washington, which included a Phillies-Diamondbacks game hosted by Hawai'i-born center fielder Shane Victorino, a tour of the Capitol courtesy of Rep. Neil Abercrombie's office, and a three-hour power lunch with former University of Hawai'i quarterback and new Washington Redskins signee Colt Brennan.

The family departs Washington early today, with Jeff, a dentist, heading to Brazil to serve on a medical mission, and the rest of the family flying to Cincinnati to visit relatives.

"Life experiences like this allow you to grow your dreams," Miyazawa said. "When you're stuck in Hawai'i, you might dream of playing high school baseball, or playing for UH, or maybe being the governor one day. But a trip like this makes the world an even neater place. You might dream of playing professional ball or being the president of the United States.

"I think this trip will broaden Josh's dreams," he said. "That was the neatest thing for all of us."