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The Little League World Series has been a great opportunity for young players and teams to represent their state or country (international teams) in a friendly, but competitive global baseball tournament each year. Teams from every state in the United States and select international teams all compete in hopes to become Little League World Series (LLWS) Champions. This year however, Hawaii was playing and competing for more than just the representation of their state and the championship title. On August 23, 2018, a category three hurricane, Hurricane Lane, was located about 200 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii. The force of the tropical storm was up to 140 miles per hour and was gradually making its way towards the islands of Hawaii.
With Hawaii’s history of hurricanes including 1992’s Hurricane Iniki and the $3 billion worth of damage it produced, it is safe to say that Hawaii’s residents were terrified of what Hurricane Lane could mean for the entire state. Not to mention, the Kilauea Volcano had violently erupted on May 3, 2018, causing a lot of damage and evacuations throughout the islands. With that said, the state of Hawaii has been in a constant recovery process from the volcanic-related issues and now has to worry about a category 3 hurricane and the damage it may cause. Hawaii has not had any type of break from these natural disasters but has had something to look forward to, as a state. The Little League World Series began on August 16, 2018 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Teams across the United States begin playing in their respective pool, based on their location in the country. Then the top two teams of each pool (division) advance on to the single elimination tournament. The team from Hawaii placed in the top two of their pool and went on to represent the entire state of Hawaii in the Little League World Series tournament. However going into the tournament, this little league team was representing more than just their state in a baseball tournament, they were representing the rebuilding process, the kindness, and the love that Hawaii has needed to recover from the brutal volcano eruptions earlier this year. Then Hurricane Lane was discovered and announced.
As emotional, devastating, and unique as Hawaii’s LLWS Championship win was during the chaos, this is not the first time something like this has happened.
“This reminds me of last year when the Houston Astros won the World Series,” Newtown High School senior Kyle Nicholson said. “They won after the huge hurricane had hit and flooded Houston. The Astros ended up winning for a lot more than just the title, just like Hawaii did this year.”
Hurricane Lane caused a lot of chaos among the state of Hawaii. Nobody knew what to expect from the category 3 hurricane on its way to hit the Big Island. Still in repair from the volcanic eruptions, the people of Hawaii were not sure what the hurricane would cost them and whether or not they would be able to afford it. Hawaii has been in dark place these last few months, and the addition of this hurricane only worsens it. Now the Hawaii little league team represented even more than before. They were now the light that Hawaii needed through the dark time, giving the state some of the only happiness and sense of hope available.
The Hawaii LLWS team coach has even told his players that they were the hope for their homeland.
“We told the boys that what they’re going through is very difficult. We’ve all been there,” said Hawaii LLWS team coach Gerald Oda. “This is our opportunity to give back.”
Many even admire the responsibilities and action the young Hawaii team has already taken.
“It is so cool to see that little kids can be role models for a whole nation,” NHS senior Beth Savinelli said. “People are looking up to these kids as leaders during dark times, and I think that’s so great.” The world has needed heroes through dark times for centuries. As time progresses, young kids are evidently beginning to take on larger roles in society.
Image courtesy of CBS News.