Keiki baseball headed for national TV on Sat.

[KamaAina]

On one hit, no less. Who was that guy who lost a (Big League) Series game for the Dodgers with one hit?

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/llws05/news/story?id=2143171

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Sheyne Baniaga homered onto the hill beyond the left-field wall and Kini Enos scattered five hits over five innings to help West Oahu of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, defeat Lafayette, La., 2-0 on Thursday and earn a berth in the U.S. championship game of the Little League World Series.

Baniaga's homer with a runner on first was the only hit allowed by Lafayette starter Jace Conrad and earned West Oahu (4-0) a spot against Rancho Bueno Vista of Vista, Calif., in Saturday's U.S. title game.

The local media has belatedly caught on: The Gannett-owned Advertiser went so far as to print baseball cards for the team in today's edition.

Imua Na Keiki!!

[KamaAina]

1. "Ka wai pilau" means Dirty Water!

U.S. Champions Ewa Beach, Hawai'i 6, Rancho Buena Vista, California 1...

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Aug/27/br/br08p.html

Vonn Fe'ao hit a two-run homer and Sheyne Baniaga hit a run-scoring single to help lift West O'ahu into the championship game of the Little League World Series with a 6-1 victory over Rancho Buena Vista, Calif., today at South Williamsport, Pa.

West O'ahu of 'Ewa Beach, which was crowned the United States champion, will play the winner of the International final between Curasao (sic) and Japan game for the World Series Championship tomorrow. The game is at 9:30 a.m. Hawai'i time (3:30 EDT -Ed.) on ABC. Rancho Buena Vista plays the Curasao (sic) -Japan loser in the third place game at 6 a.m. Hawai'i time on ESPN.

What amazed me was how many of the guys from out here turned out to be Sox fans! We may be witnessing a whole new era in human history -- Red Sox bandwagon jumpers!!

What else amazed me was that the AP writer seems unable to spell "Curacao" even though it is right near Aruba...

Imua Na Keiki!!!

[KamaAina]

2. Holy cats! They win it all!!

I had thrown the remote down in disgust after Curacao appeared to break it open in the fifth -- but these guys play like the New Sox, not the old ones!

http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=3737

Michael Memea hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh innning, giving Ewa Beach the international Little League World Series championship today in South Williamsport, Pa., with a 7-6 victory over defending champion Curacao....

Vonn Feao led off the sixth with a walk. Quentin Guevara then dumped a single to right, and he ended up on second and Feao at third when the ball was misplayed....

Layson Aliviado drew a walk to load the bases, and Kini Enos grounded into a force out at home for the first out.

Rosete scored to tie it at 6 when Alakai Aglipay grounded into another force play for the second out. Sheyne Baniaga flew out to center to end the sixth and send the game to extra innings.

I wouldn't have given you two cents for an "Ewa Beach World Champions" shirt after the debacle that was the fifth -- but then, you know where I grew up!

Why this matters: The last Hawai'i team to win a title in a major sport (and keep it) was UH wahine (women's) volleyball -- in 1986.

MAIKA'I NA KEIKI!!!!