It’s been almost 15 years since the Auburn Little League 12U All-Stars has had a state champion.
That all changed last Saturday as Auburn swept the competition at the state championships in Elma, compiling a 5-0 record in the tournament, including two consecutive victories over defending champion Mercer Island.
Now it’s off to San Bernardino, Calif. for the Northwest Regional, where the All-Stars will seek to better the 1997 squad’s performance and go where no Auburn team has gone before – the World Series at Williamsport, Pa.
Auburn opens regional play at 9:30 a.m. Friday against Laramie, Wyo.
Coming into the state tournament, Auburn coach Kai Nahaku wasn’t sure what to expect from his squad.
“You never know what the rest of the state has,” Nahaku said. “I knew what we have in our districts, but it was an unknown going into the state tournament. I knew there is a lot of talented players in the state of Washington. I knew that Mercer Island was coming back, the defending Northwest Regional champs.”
The Auburn boys defeated Mercer Island twice by scores of 5-2 and 3-2, which Nahaku said is a psychological boost for the team coming into the regional.
“That was huge,” Nahaku said. “When you beat a team that has four or five returners from a Northwest Regional championship, you really gain maturity. I didn’t even know how the kids would react, but they never once were intimidated. I was surprised about that myself. I was talking it up, telling them not to worry about them, it’s a new year, just go out and play your game. I was real proud of how they reacted.”
Isaiah Hatch, the title game winning pitcher, agreed.
“It’s huge because they went to the World Series last year, so I think we have a chance to go,” Hatch said. “It felt really good. After I struck the last guy out, I realized it was a really big accomplishment.”
Although the Auburn team trailed most of the title game, posting three runs in the sixth inning to move past Mercer Island 3-2, Nahaku never doubted his team.
“You’re absolutely nervous, but I was also confident. I know our team,” Nahaku said. “One thing with this team is that it doesn’t matter where we are in the order. One of the things that has made us so successful in all the tournaments we’ve played is that if the top half of the order isn’t hitting, the bottom half of the order is. This whole run has been a team run. It hasn’t been hoping for your 3-4-5 or 2-3-4 hitters to hit.”
“It was suspenseful during the whole game,” pitcher Casey Manning added. “I was actually kind of shocked that we came around and pulled it together. We stuck with it though.”
With the title in its pocket, Auburn left Wednesday for Southern California. It has been a busy week of preparation.
“It’s been very hectic,” Nahaku said. “Once again it’s been a lot of unknowns. We’re getting a lot of help from San Bernardino. But it’s a lot of stuff to make happen in two days. But another thing we’re lucky with is the parents on the team get in there and make whatever needs to happen, happen. We’re very fortunate in that.”
With all the parental help ironing out the logistics for the team, Nahaku said he’s able to focus on the task at hand – preparing his team for the tourney.
“I’ve coached a lot of the kids and they know what to expect from me,” Nahaku said. “I hope I’ve pushed a lot of my expectations onto them. I want them to be excited and happy for that win, but don’t lose sight of that goal. I think that every step of the way we’ve celebrated the win, but then they know the next day it’s batting practice and back to work. Don’t be satisfied with your accomplishment, start reaching for the next thing you need to get better at.”
And much like the state tournament, where the team moved into unfamiliar territory against unfamiliar teams, Nahaku said he’s confident that his team will do well.
“The special thing about this team is we don’t rely on one or two players,” Nahaku said. “Everybody contributes. It’s happened in our games since we got together. Our nine-hole hitters hit home runs in crucial moments. Somebody always comes up with the critical defensive play. It’s not always our one and two pitchers that shut the game down. ”
For Manning, whose dad Frank Manning played in the Little League World Series, it’s all about the team unity.
“The chemistry and the heart of this team sets us apart,” Manning said. “Nobody gets down on themselves.”
Hatch and Manning agreed that the team knows exactly what to do to move out of regionals
“We need to keep our heads in it and win each inning,” Manning said.
“We just have to keep winning and playing hard,” Hatch said.
