Maui World Champs Return Home

August 9, 2016, 6:43 AM HST
* Updated August 9, 7:43 AM

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CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE HOMECOMING AT KAHULUI AIRPORT

Friends and family gathered at Kahului Airport to welcome home Maui’s Intermediate World Series Champs, the Central Maui Little League All-Stars. The boys were greeted by signs, leis and the sounding of sirens by the Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Crew. The Maui team defeated Seoul, South Korea on Sunday 5-1 to take the world title.

SWIPE LEFT OR RIGHT

Three boys and two coaches did not travel with the team, as they join another Maui team still competing in their respective World Series event. Haku Dudoit, Dawson Tokishi and Adam Yamashita along with coaches Craig Okita and Dean Yamashita are headed to the Pony World Series in Pennsylvania.

“It’s been a crazy summer……who would of imagined having both the Pony and Little League 50/70 teams advance to their respective World Series,” said Okita.

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“I can say that I am very, very proud of these young men. Words cannot explain the feeling we all shared once the final out was made. This journey has been an incredible experience for all of us and I would like to thank all of our supporters that made it possible,” Okita told Maui Now.

Dawson Tokishi agreed saying, “After the final out was made it didn’t feel real. Hard to imagine being World Champs.”

Fellow teammate, Adam Yamashita said, “I felt relieved that all the hard work has paid off. We played well as a team and everyone did their job.”

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The Maui roster was comprised of: Haku Dudoit; Dawson Tokishi; Isaiah Souza; Tiger Caulford; Reyn Okita; Kamaha’o Ching; Adam Yamashita; Lee Souza; Isiah Kekahuna-Hernandez; Jarrett Harper; Keelan Yagi; Dylan Mahuna; and Shaeston Machida-Santos.

The Maui Pony team defeated Germany 9-0 on Sunday, and defeated Laredo, Texas on Monday 6-5. Consolation and winner bracket games will be decided today, with Maui set to play in the winner bracket game at 8 p.m. ET. The championship game will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.

Meantime, the Central East Maui Majors from Wailuku are playing the Little League West Regional tournament taking place in San Bernardino, CA from August 7-13, 2016. The Maui team of 11- and 12-year-olds defeated Nevada, 8-0 in the tournament opener on Sunday.

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They also won their followup game on Monday with a 5-2 victory against Snow Canyon, Utah. Their next game is on Thursday, Aug. 11 against Park View, Southern California