August 24, 2008
Waipi’o Majors Little League Day in Hawaii (by proclamation)
I don’t make it a habit to copy others’ words and post duplicate content, but this is special and needs to appear as is. From the office of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle:
On behalf of the people of Hawai’i, we would like to congratulate the World Champion Waipi’o Majors on winning the 2008 International Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday, August 24, 2008.
Since 1939, Little League Baseball has promoted and nurtured the interest of baseball in our youth. Discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and physical fitness are developed through coaches’ exemplary leadership, shaping not just high-quality athletes but good citizens as well.
Throughout this year’s World Series, Hawai’i’s Waipi’o Majors embodied the legacy of Little League Baseball that has shaped the character and leadership skills of so many youth who came before them. The team’s performance was truly inspiring, with a thrilling, historic, “one-for-the ages” 7-5 comeback victory to win the United States Championship over a talented team from Lake Charles, Louisiana, becoming only the third team from Hawai’i to earn the national title.
The skilled outstanding performance throughout the tournament was capped off in the final game against the international champion team from Matamoros, Mexico as the team captured the World Championship in decisive fashion by a score of 12 to 3, scoring in every inning with great pitching, hitting, and fielding. With gritty and focused determination, the Waipi’o Majors fought back from the brink of elimination at the state championship tournament in July to win for the third year in a row.
Throughout the regional championships, working together the team collected wins against teams from Utah, Massachusetts and the previously unbeaten team from Nevada. The entire state of Hawai’i cheered the players on as Waipi’o finished the West Region tournament with a 5-1 record.
The team’s overall 12-2 record in the 2008 International Little League Tournament will not soon be forgotten.
The team’s spirit, hard work and passion brought much pride to all our residents and honor to our state. Only nine teams from Hawai’i have claimed the achievement of participating in the Little League Baseball World Series with only two of those teams reaching the championship game.
Manager Timo Donahue and coaches Kiha Akau and Gregg Tsugawa’s guidance, mentoring, knowledge of baseball and hard work clearly helped lead the Waipi’o Majors Little League team through a triumphant season, resulting in capturing the 2008 International Little League Baseball World Series title.
THEREFORE, I, LINDA LINGLE, Governor of the State of Hawai’i, and I, James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., Lieutenant Governor, do hereby proclaim today, August 24, 2008, as WAIPI’O MAJORS LITTLE LEAGUE DAY in Hawai’i, for the team’s hard work and sportsmanship resulting in winning the 2008 International Little League Baseball World Series. Representing the United States, the State of Hawai’i and our community with sportsmanship and aloha, the Waipi’o Majors brought great pride to their family, friends and coaches. These athletes are true champions in every sense of the word. Congratulations Waipi’o Majors!
DONE at the State Capitol, in the Executive Chambers, Honolulu, State of Hawai’i, this twenty-fourth day of August 2008.
Linda Lingle Governor, State of Hawai’i
James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawai’i
Adding my own congratulations to the boys from Waipi’o, and mahalo to Governor Lingle and Lieutenant Governor Aiona for recognizing that Little League is about more than “just” baseball and that baseball is more than “just” a game. My son played for Pilney Little League in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana throughout his growing-up years. I can attest that participation in Little League builds sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork in all of the kids fortunate enough to participate, along with a long list of other desirable qualities that they’ll carry within them for life. The World Little League Championship goes to the Waipi’o All Stars, but every Little Leaguer is a winner in my book.
[tags]baseball, Hawaii local news, Little League Baseball, Little League World Series, Waipio All Stars[/tags]
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