Well, the Placentia Tigers made good on their promise to themselves, and to each
other for this tournament, and this trip. We came over here not wanting baseball
to be something that we did in our spare time on Oahu... we came over here to
win the Hawaii World Series. Not 4th, 3rd or even 2nd place. Anything less than
a championship would be considered a failure.


Baseball was played. Not "little league" baseball, not "pony league" baseball,
not even USSSA, but hard nosed, "no collision avoidance needed", suicide
squeezing, loogee hawkin BASEBALL. The Tigers brought the "Ay'est of the A game"
to Oahu.

Along the lines of "team unity" - NOT LETTING one error turn into a 5 run
inning. In the past, one error would cause some discontinuity on the field, and
many times would turn into another error, a hit batter, another error, and
before you know it we're deep in the hole. That did not happen this game with
the exception of the FIRST GAME (what I refer to as our "wake up call").


Working at bat to get pitches to hit. As much as you tell players to be
selective and try to work the count to get it into your favor, alot of times
they just can't maintain that mindset with a bat in their hands facing a kid
that's throwing 75mph on the inside black. This tournament, the concentration
and the execution of the plan was there more times than not.
Good times together.

The atmosphere and semi-hostile "Team Maui" environment helped bond
this team and create not just a World Series Championship, but a life experience
that these young men and their families will never forget. The magic of what we
did, and the things we accomplished here and as a team will live in the hearts
and memories of every player that came 3000 miles across the Pacific Ocean as a
Tiger.

Ken Castillo Manager, Placentia Tigers 13/u 
placentiatigers@mac.