4/3/2023 0 Comments Justplay baseball tournament![]() Whoever came up with the idea that had teams playing two games three days apart was not thinking with their head on straight. In fact, I would not even call it a tournament in the first place. For more information, visit /75.After spending five days in Louisville, Ky., last week to cover two baseball games, I think I have the right to say that last week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship was the worst baseball tournament I have ever covered. NOTE: As the world gears up to celebrate the 75 th Anniversary of the Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS) in August 2022, Little League® International will feature content such as this in a series of franchises that highlights some of the key moments, memories, and people that have made the LLBWS one of the most iconic sporting events in the world. ![]() Over the years in Williamsport, Hawaii has shown the world their aloha spirit and invited all of us into their ohana. “And I think with the Little League World Series experience, we really got to show our aloha spirit to the whole world. “The aloha spirit is just being yourself, having fun on the field, off the field, making new friends,” said Sean. He’s taken the aloha spirit he learned growing up in Hawaii around the game of baseball and brought it forward with him. Sean said that the coaching staff did a good job of instilling the island’s ideals into them. But we can definitely control how we perform and how we behave both on and off the field.” “And reminding them that, whether we win or lose, we really can’t control it. “Even among the coaches, we always remind ourselves it’s about creating positive memories for these kids,” said Mr. Bagoyo spoke of how important it is to make the tournament fun for the players. They show that same appreciation within the team as well. “We do this for the people that support the tournament and as a sign of appreciation for our opponent. “The one thing that we all do, and it’s common to Hawaii teams, is that as soon as we know we are traveling to a tournament, we bring gifts as a sign of appreciation,” said Mr. “Not only are we able to share gifts with them, but it also makes us happy as well to able to see the joy on their faces when we give them some candy or some leis and some flowers.” ![]() “The spirit is just showing a lot of love and kindness to anyone that we meet,” said Mr. He says the aloha spirit is a big reason why they’ve won the Jack Losch Award twice in the last three years. The first time was as a player with Pearl City Little League in 1988, then again, he coached his son, Zack, on the 2021 team from Honolulu Little League. Twice in the last four years, Hawaii has been the recipient of the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award, given to the team that best displays sportsmanship on and off the field during their time in Williamsport. We’re from such a small place that we can go out there and have fun.”Īs great as Hawaii have been on the field, their presence is Williamsport has meant just as much off of it – to opponents, volunteers, and everyone who has watched them play the game their way. We have no pressure on us because, I mean, we have nothing to lose. “We just play baseball how it’s supposed to be played,” said Sean. He added that representing the state doesn’t mean more pressure. “I think that everyone got the message of what we were about.” And I think we did that well,” said Sean. “We wanted to do it the right way – show the aloha spirit. Like many from Hawaii would, he talked about making sure they played the game the way it is meant to be played: with heart, grit, and sportsmanship. Now he’s playing baseball in high school and can reflect on what it meant to represent his state. Sean Yamaguchi was a captain of that 2018 team. The first win came in 2005, then again in 2008, and most recently in 2018. ![]() They’ve made 14 Little League Baseball® World Series Tournaments. Over the years in Williamsport, Hawaii has had great success on the field. Little League teams across the island state are hopeful to once again bring their ohana onto the mainland and make it again to the Little League World Series. When we say you’re part of our ohana, it means that you’re part of us.” Just ask thirty-year Little League® volunteer Gerald Oda. Baseball on the island is all a part of one big ohana. ![]()
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