One more win.
The Honolulu Little League All-Stars are just a victory away from returning to the sport’s biggest stage, the Little League World Series, following a thrilling extra-innings win over Menlo Park (California) on Monday in the West Regional semifinals.
Led by longtime head coach Gerald Oda, who guided Honolulu to world championships in 2018 and 2022, this year’s squad is back in the West Regional title game. Hawai‘i will face Fullerton, California on Thursday at 3 p.m. HST, with the winner earning a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Assistant coach Willis Kato, a 2002 Kalani graduate who has been part of Oda’s staff during both previous title runs, says this group shares the same special bond that helped propel past teams to glory.
“Their love for each other, like they all wear that name on the back, ‘WE > ME,’ or ‘we is greater than me’, it has meaning for all of those teams,” Kato said. “That family and that love they have for each other is helping us get through these stressful times and pressure situations. That’s the one commonality all those teams have had, and it’s helping us again now.”
Kato, who works as a financial advisor when not in the dugout, was visibly emotional during Monday’s walk-off win, seen high-stepping down the first base line in celebration after the game-winning run scored.
“You gotta love the squeeze,” Kato said with a smile. “Those kinds of games, the tight ones, are the ones the coaches and the team truly enjoy, because they’re the most memorable. That’s a game I’ll never forget. Just to be a part of it was something truly special.”
The West Regional Championship will be televised live on ESPN.
In related youth baseball news, teams from Hawaii are also participating in the Ripken and Ruth League World Series across a number of divisions.