ASSOCIATED PRESS

Maybe it was destiny or maybe it was coincidence, but as rain fell on Waipio’s opening-night game - and a rainbow appeared in the sky over Williamsport, Pa. - we should have known that this team would be blessed.

What followed was a triumph for the Hawaii boys, who continued a winning habit begun by West Oahu in 2005.

Relive the moments, captured in words and pictures, in this special Little League World Series commemorative edition.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS Tanner Tokunaga made five relief appearances.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. » Why Waipio? What makes the Hawaii team so special?

These are two questions that were asked the most by the people of Pennsylvania.

Well, you could look at a number of things.

Really, though, they had the complete package.

When most managers tell you that solid pitching and an even-better defense win at the Little League level, they are correct.

Hawaii is proof of that.

Yes, they probably had the best hitter in the tournament with Pikai Winchester.

But go beyond hitting statistics.

Waipio’s pitching rotation was deep. There was no other team at the LLWS that could use nine hurlers, each one equally effective.

There wasn’t much of a drop-off. Caleb Duhay was dominant. Khade Paris struggled a bit with his control, but struck out nine batters in 32/3 innings. And there was solid relief with Christian Donahue, Tanner Tokunaga and Trevor Ling.

Need an example? How about Louisiana?

Lake Charles was up 5-1 on Waipio in the top of the sixth, but starter Trey Quinn ran out of pitches. Ace Kennon Fontenot wasn’t available. It sent manager Charlie Phillips searching and, basically, there was no help in sight. Waipio scored six in the sixth, and got to the World Championship game.

Defensively, no one was better.

With the exception of a little miscommunication in the field Sunday, although the ball was still caught, pop flies were called out and players talked with one another.

The results were obvious. Hawaii only had three errors in six games. Mexico had three errors in Sunday’s championship alone.

Yes, Iolana Akau’s full-out extension to snare a ball in right field was pretty sweet. And Tokunaga fielding a ball in the gap at short and throwing out a runner was well done.

But what really stood out were the little things. The routine plays in the infield. Outfielders keeping the ball in front of them. Pitchers fielding their positions.

Washington coach Scott Mahlum said it best.

“They won’t beat themselves,” he said after his Mill Creek squad lost to Waipio in the U.S. semifinals. “You are going to have to play a perfect game to beat them. It’s going to take a good team to do that.”

And they had heart.

They fought through a nearly 90-minute rain delay against Connecticut. Going against what people sensed was the strongest team in the tournament at the time, Waipio powered past Florida.

Of course, the Louisiana contest doesn’t need much explanation, only to say it was the greatest Little League World Series game most in these parts had ever witnessed and it kind of served as a reminder.

No matter how big a team is size-wise, it’s the little things that win baseball games. Waipio proved that in the opener against Connecticut, which was a much bigger team. But on that night, the little guys did win with pitching and solid defense.

It’s a reminder to all Little League coaches. Sometimes, the little things can win titles.

It did for Waipio.

Mahlum summed it up.

“It’s funny because they aren’t the biggest, not the strongest and they don’t throw the hardest. But mentally and fundamentally, they are as solid as it gets. They are very impressive.”

One week later, the entire world knows that’s true.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Christian Donahue scored the second run on a wild pitch.

Pool play game 1 / Waipio 3, Shelton, Conn. 1

The opener for Waipio at the Little League World Series wasn’t an easy one as the West region team beat the New England region squad 3-1.

Waipio got off to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a wild pitch with the bases loaded, but the team from Shelton, Conn., came back to tie it in the second on a home run by eventual losing pitcher Eddie Kochiss. It was one of only two hits given up by winning pitcher Caleb Duhay and reliever Tanner Tokunaga.

The Waipio team broke the tie in the fourth when Christian Donahue scored from third on a wild pitch strikeout by Tokunaga. In the fifth, the rain came and forced an 85-minute delay, but it didn’t bother Waipio. The Little League team scored another run in the fifth on a home run by Pikai Winchester to secure its first victory in Pool B play.

“Considering the close game and the rain delay, one extra home run gave our pitcher a little room to breathe,” Waipio manager Timo Donahue said.

Waipio 3, New England 1

E-Murphy; Moretti. HR-Kochiss; Winchester. SB-Donahue.

HBP-Akau (by Kochiss). WP-Kochiss 2; Duhay. PB-Searles 2.

Umpires-Mike Baker (Plate); Daniel Lowe (First); Steve Mecham (Second); Robert Rivera (Third).
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ASSOCIATED PRESS Jedd Andrade, left, and Keelen Obedoza greeted Tanner Tokunaga at home plate after Tokunaga hit a grand slam in the fifth inning.

Pool play game 2 / Waipio 10, Tampa, FLA. 2

In a game many considered the turning point of the Little League World Series, the Waipio team beat the highly touted Southeast team from Tampa, Fla., 10-2, to improve to 2-0 in pool play and automatically qualify for the United States semifinals.

Tampa took an early, 2-0 lead in the first after Waipio’s Khade Paris walked three, allowed a single and uncorked four wild pitches. But in what would prove to be a portent of things to come, Waipio rallied with four runs in the third, including the go-ahead run by Trevor Ling on a sacrifice fly.

Waipio put the game away with two runs in the fourth and then four more in the fifth on Tanner Tokunaga’s grand slam.

“He just hung his curveball and I hit it good,” Tokunaga said. “It just busted the game open.”

Meanwhile, Waipio’s pitching staff settled down after the shaky first to blank Tampa the rest of the way. Ling threw three scoreless innings of relief to get the win.

“I was really nervous,” Ling said. “I tried taking deep breaths to calm me down.”

Waipio 10, Southeast 2

E-McGuire; Gilcrease; Reid. 2B-Tokunaga; Winchester. HR-Tokunaga. SB-McGuire; Gilcrease.

HBP-Obedoza (by Reid); Andrarde (by Miller); Obedoza (by Miller). WP-Paris 4; Miller; Darren.

Umpires-Lowe (Plate); Bradley (First); Masnayon (Second); Rivera (Third).
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ASSOCIATED PRESS Pikai Winchester slid safely back into third base, beating the tag by Rapid City’s Jonah Hanson.

Pool play game 3 / Waipio 6, Rapid city, S.D. 4

Because Waipio already had locked up the No. 1 seed in Pool B play, head coach Timo Donahue sent seven pitchers to the mound against Midwest representative Rapid City, S.D., to make sure his starters were rested for the stretch drive.

“We tried to save our pitching since we had nothing to lose,” Donahue explained. “We faced the same type of situation in regionals, so we were prepared for this.”

The South Dakota team was 0-2 and in search of at least one win before going home, but it wasn’t meant to be, as Waipio rallied for a 6-4 victory. Waipio’s Keelen Obedoza broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth with a two-run homer that proved to be the margin of victory.

“I was pretty excited to hit a homer,” Obedoza said. “It had been a while since I hit like that.”

The game was close prior to that big blast. Hawaii took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI double by Kainoa Fong. South Dakota came back to score three runs in the fourth to take the lead, but Waipio answered with three runs of its own to regain it. The key hit was a two-run double by Khade Paris.

Cale Fierro tied it again at 4-all in the fifth with a solo homer, but it just set up the heroics of Obedoza in the bottom of the fifth to seal the deal.

It left South Dakota without a win, but manager Doug Simons was still pleased with the effort.

“I was proud because they just kept fighting back,” Simons said. “The kids are sad it’s over, but they played a great team really well today.”

Waipio 6, Midwest 4

E-Obedoza; Minnick; Hagen; Nolan. 2B-Fong; Winchester. HR-Fierro; Obedoza. SB-Fierro; Riddle.

HBP-Obedoza (by Simons); Wevik (by Farm); Simons (by Farm); Ling (by Simons); Wevik (by Andrade). PB-Minnick 2.

Umpires-Masnayon (Plate); Lowe (First); Mano (Second); Mecham (Third).

T-1:52. A-11,300.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Iolana Akau pumped his fist as he rounded the bases on a first-inning two-run homer.

U.S. Semifinals / Waipio 9, Mill Creek, Wash. 4

Waipio’s bats had been relatively quiet during the first three games, but they came to life in the U.S. semifinals against the Northwest region’s Mill Creek, Wash.

Mill Creek took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Waipio rallied with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning and never looked back. Waipio hit four home runs in the game, including two by Pikai Winchester that proved to be the difference in the key matchup won by Waipio, 9-4.

Despite striking out 11 Waipio batters, the Northwest squad just didn’t have enough offense to overcome the long balls Waipio hit.

“It’s sad that one of us had to lose,” Waipio manager Timo Donahue said. “Those guys are good guys over there.”

The win moved Waipio into the U.S. finals against Southwest Region winner Lake Charles, La. That team knocked off Tampa, Fla., on the other side of the bracket, meaning Waipio wouldn’t have to beat the Florida team twice to advance to the championship game.

“They’re just too good a team to give up three unearned runs in the first,” Mill Creek manager Scott Mahlum said. “I said they were the best team fundamentally - they were - and I think I also said Winchester was the best hitter here, and darn if he didn’t prove that tonight.”

Starting pitcher Caleb Duhay picked up the win. He had eight strikeouts in 32/3 innings.

“The next time we take the field, there’s only going to be two U.S. teams left,” Donahue said, “and that in itself says a lot.”

Waipio 9, Northwest 4

E-Baumgartner; Kisena. 2B-Fong. HR-Tokunaga; Akau; Neaville; Winchester. SB-Akau.

HBP-Obedoza (by Mahlum). WP-Tokunaga. PB-Obedoza; Jondal.

Umpires-Don Dozier (Plate); Dan Gettert (First); Rob Hacker (Second); Kevin Masnayon (Third).

T-1:58. A-16,300.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Waipio players, above, celebrated their remarkable, come-from-behind victory over Lake Charles, La.

U.S. Championship / Waipio 7, Lake Charles, LA. 5

If there ever was a greater game in Little League World Series history, the old-timers here in Williamsport can’t remember it.

Down 5-1 after five innings and seemingly out of it against the powerful Southwest Region team from Lake Charles, La., Waipio mounted a rally for the ages by scoring six runs in its final at-bat to secure the 7-5 victory.

It all began with a simple single to left by Tanner Tokunaga. Pikai Winchester followed with a double down the line in left to put runners at second and third. Iolana Akau followed with an RBI single to center to cut the lead to 5-2. Khade Paris made the first out of the inning, but Winchester scored on the play and Akau went all the way to third to make it 5-3.

Caleb Duhay managed a single to center to make it 5-4. With runners on first and second, Trevor Ling went down on strikes, but Keelen Obedoza walked to load the bases for Christian Donahue. He hit a shot to first that infielder Gunner Leger couldn’t locate after stopping it, allowing the tying run to score.

“When I saw him bobble the ball I just started running harder,” Donahue said.

Tokunaga stepped in and hit a two-run double to left to give Waipio its first lead since the third inning, when it was 1-0. Waipio closed out the Louisiana team in the bottom of the sixth to move on to the final of the Little League World Series against Mexico, the International champion.

“It obviously didn’t look too good through that fifth inning,” Waipio manager Timo Donahue said.

“We do pretty good against lefties, but we were down. There’s something I tell these guys all the time - as long as we are within a grand slam, anything can happen.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS Things didn’t look nearly as bright when Keelen Obedoza, left, was tagged out by Lake Charles catcher Beau Jordan between home and third in the third inning.

Waipio 7, Southwest 5

E-Duhay; Leger. 2B-Donahue; Jordan, Be.; Winchester; Tokunaga. HR-Fontenot.

HBP-Winchester (by Quinn). WP-Paris; Tokunaga.

Umpires-Don Dozier (Plate); Dale Prentiss (First); Dan Gettert (Second); Daniel Lowe (Third).

T-2:19. A-22,700.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Right fielder Iolana Akau made a diving catch on a ball hit by Eduardo Rodriguez in the fifth inning.

Little League World Series Championship / Waipio 12, Matamoros, Mexico 3

After the big win over Lake Charles, La., on Saturday, the Sunday final was almost anticlimactic for the 28,500 fans jamming Lamade Stadium.

Waipio became only the second team in Little League World Series championship game history to score in every inning, taking a 3-0 lead after two innings en route to a lopsided 12-3 victory over Matamoros, Mexico. It was the second time in four years that a team from Oahu won the world title in what is arguably the biggest event in youth sports.

After Christian Donahue led off the first with a single and came around to score on a single by Pikai Winchester, it was just a matter of time before Waipio would pull away for the win. Starting pitcher Sergio Rodriguez for Mexico kept hanging his curveball and Waipio kept jumping on it. Tanner Tokunaga made it 3-0 with a two-run homer to center, leaving the fans from Mexico unusually quiet.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Top, winning pitcher Caleb Duhay shook hands with Carlos Balboa after the game.

“(Sergio) told me he was relaxed before the game,” Mexico manager Gustavo Gomez said through an interpreter. “You have to understand this is one of the biggest games in this kid’s life, so I can understand if he was a little nervous.”

Mexico cut the lead to 3-1 on a homer by Jesus Sauceda off winning pitcher Caleb Duhay in the second, and trimmed Waipio’s lead to 4-3 in the third, but Waipio refused to lose, scoring three in the fourth and four more in the fifth to seal Mexico’s fate.

“Today I felt really confident,” Duhay said. “I had all my pitches.”

With Mexico closing in, Iolana Akau keyed the four-run fourth with a homer to left-center. It rattled reliever Sauceda, who promptly walked three batters and hit another. It was just a matter of playing out the string after that.

“All along I’ve been saying that it’s just a matter of time before our bats woke up,” Waipio manager Timo Donahue said. “It seems like once we got here, each game one bat would wake up, and eventually they all did.

“Did I expect the differential in scoring today? Not at all.”

The 12 runs for Hawaii were the most scored by one team in a World Series title game since Toms River, N.J., scored 12 against Japan in 1998.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Above, Jedd Andrade, top, and Kainoa Fong congratulated Tanner Tokunaga after his two-run homer in the second.

Waipio 12, Mexico 3

E-Rodriguez, Em.; Donahue; Molina; Rodriguez, J. HR-Tokunaga 2; Sauceda; Akau.

HBP-Paris (by Sauceda); Andrade (by Muller); Akau (by Rodriguez, Ed.). WP-Rodriguez, S. 3; Duhay; Rodriguez, Ed. 3. PB-Villegas 2; Rodriguez, Ed.

Umpires-Baker (Plate); Germino (First); Mecham (Second); Prentiss (Third).

T-2:35. A-28,500.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Lloyd Kishi, who played on Wahiawa’s Little League World Series team in 1971, has plenty of memorabilia from that time in his life.

FURTHER REVIEW
Dave Reardon

Back when Little League was indeed little, Hawaii teams made eight trips to Williamsport, Pa. Eight trips and zero world championships.

That makes the highly publicized and widely televised victories by West Oahu in 2005 and Waipio last week all the more meaningful for the islands’ proud baseball community.

With that in mind, our stud researcher, Jerry Campany, handed me a list of all the kids from here who had played in the LLWS over the decades.

“Here, see if there’s anyone you’ve heard of,” he said.

The names from the two recent champions were familiar, of course, as well as those from the 1988 U.S. champs from Pearl City. But there were just a few that rang a bell from the seven earlier teams. One, though, made me smile: Lloyd Kishi.

Lloyd was the starting left fielder on the 1971 team from Wahiawa that made it to the semifinals at Williamsport before absorbing a beating from the then-dominant Taiwanese. He also happened to be my mountainball teammate in the 1990s. Lloyd was one of the best players on our team, but I had no idea about his Little League World Series pedigree.

Another Lloyd, the future Major Leaguer, last name of McClendon, was the American star in 1971, dominating the series until his Gary, Ind., team lost to Taiwan in the final. Lloyd Kishi said he doesn’t remember even getting a hit in his three games.

“I was 4-6 and 96 pounds,” Kishi said with a laugh. “I think I was overmatched. I was definitely nervous, especially the first game.

“When I saw Taiwan practice, I pretty much knew they were going to win. We had hope, but I knew.”

Lloyd elected not to play high school ball, but continued to stand out in AJA and other community hardball leagues. Then he starred in mountainball as a slick shortstop and power hitter until it became time to coach his own sons, Lance and Layne, in the Mililani PONY league. That’s where he encountered coach Timo Donahue and some of the players from the Waipio team that went on to fame.

“He’s a really good coach. We know Timo and his coaching style. He prepared them well. The kids rallied around him,” Kishi said. “I think because we knew some of the players and coaches, that made watching a really fun experience for us.”

Lloyd, 49, still follows the Little League World Series, especially when a Hawaii team makes it.

“I think the skill level has really improved from then to now,” he said. “The kids are bigger and stronger; they play a different game.”

Every now and then he bumps into a teammate from Wahiawa, 1971.

“It’s not so much we keep in touch, but when we see each other we’re always happy. There’s always going to be a bond,” he said.

And, although they will never all know each other, there will always be a tie among the two Hawaii teams that won it all at Williamsport and the previous eight that went and gave it their best shot.