As we watched the games of this year’s Little League World Series unfold from our iHeart Media broadcast location, partner Ken Sawyer often commented favorably on the dedication of the volunteer managers and coaches and their efforts in leading their teams to Williamsport. While the Series itself is a ten-day 24-7 commitment, the time spent with their respective teams since the start of tournament play at the local level is nearly insurmountable.
Teaching baseball skills is not the only responsibility heaped upon a team’s coaching staff. They also become quasi-parents, travel guides, public relations directors, etiquette and manners consultants, and disciplinarians when such occasions arise.
Most teams arriving in Williamsport include coaches with sons/daughters on the roster. This year, the Czech Republic and Mexico on the International side and Hawaii in the United States bracket were the only teams featuring coaching staffs void of parents.
As he guided his team through the electric atmosphere of the World Series, Hawaii manager Daniel Bolduc took time to share his coaching philosophy and describe the experience.
“We (assistant coaches Kevin Constantino and Ian Shimabuku) have coached together for the past ten years. We’ve always treated it the same way. The players must earn their spot on the team. Even when I was coaching when my kids were on the team, it was the same thing — you had to earn your spot. To me, that’s the philosophy that sometimes is being lost in the game. The fair way to do it is to have the players earn their spot on the team. That can be tough on the kids, but when you stick to that philosophy, every spot is open.”
The devastating fires that engulfed Lahaina were on the other side of Maui and did not affect Wailuku, where the team is based.
“We do have one boy on the team whose family moved from Lahaina. I’ve been asked several times about the fire but don’t want to comment much on it. It was a tragic thing, and we have so much respect for the people on the west side of the island whose lives were so dramatically affected, but I prefer to leave that topic alone.
“When we began the tournament, we played on Maui against three other teams. Then, we moved on to the state tournament against five other teams. Winning that tournament qualified us for the regional tournament in San Bernadino.
“In San Bernadino, we were quartered in a hotel. That was a little different than here. That gave us a break. But even here in Williamsport, we have our own room in the dorms, which is nice. We don’t have to deal with all the smells!”
Bolduc’s initial reaction upon arriving for the Series was full of enthusiasm.
“This town is amazing. Everything is around baseball. It is super cool how this is set up and organized. They say it’s once in a lifetime because it is not easy to get here. You have to fight every game to get here. When you do get here, they make every kid feel like a superstar. It is just awesome.
“Being part of the Grand Slam Parade was exciting for us. We understand it is a big thing for the local community and the kids liked to see so many people along the route waving and cheering for us. We were happy to be a part of it.”
After opening wins against New Hampshire and Illinois, losses to Nevada and Florida left the Islanders short of their goal, but their eagerness and passion for the game earned the support of many local fans who came out to cheer them on.
“The kids took to the tournament well and had a blast. This whole journey has been a bit like a very long sleepover. Think about it. They are with their friends all day and all night, wake up and do it all over again. As coaches, we treat them all like our kids. As long as they are respectful, strong young men who make the right decisions, they don’t get in trouble with us.
“We are only the second team from Maui ever to make it to Williamsport. We knew some of the other Hawaii teams have done well here, but we didn’t want to put any pressure on them. We just emphasized playing one game at a time and competing. There is some luck to it, and sometimes the ball will bounce your way. Other times, luck will be with your opponent. You just hope it’s with you more times than not.”
The six-hour time difference between Williamsport and Hawaii made the team’s games a breakfast companion on the Islands.
“We had tremendous support back home. They sent videos of the kids at school losing their minds when we were playing. There were watch parties with everyone cheering for us.
“Baseball is pretty big on Maui. Because of the weather, we can play almost year-round. We have a lot of talent that maybe gets overlooked because we are so far away. We have had many players do some big things in college from Hawaii. That success helps open doors for the youth. Being here at the World Series draws interest back home, and this opportunity we experienced helps increase dreams for others to get involved in the game.”
Aloha is a Hawaiian term for greetings and farewells, expressing love, affection, and well-wishes. Those who interacted with the Maui contingent at this year’s Series can also use the term in unison as we bid them adieu.
