First, I’d like to take this moment to sadly acknowledge the passing of a music icon.
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, died Thursday morning after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 76.
As I’m writing this, I’m at my desk in the newsroom and listening to music and news videos on YouTube.
If you don’t know who she is or have ever listened to her music, I highly recommend doing so and don’t even wait.
You know someone is a special person when they are labeled the queen of anything. What a talent she was, and the world lost a truly great woman.
Now, on to the sporting world.
The Little League World Series started Thursday, and I’m sure many in the state will be tuning in to watch Honolulu Little League take on the world’s best.
Honolulu advanced to the LLWS by clinching the West Region championship after defeating Tri City Little League from Rocklin, Calif., 11-2.
Honolulu LL will begin its tournament run today against Peachtree City American Little League, the Southeast Region winner from Peachtree City, Ga.
That game is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time and will be shown on ESPN. It seems Hawaii’s team will have some positive momentum going into tournament play after beating Tri City in a rout.
It’s been 10 years since Waipio Little League won it all in 2008, defeating Matamoros, Mexico in a 12-3 rout for the title.
And just three years prior, West Oahu Little League from Ewa Beach won Hawaii its first LLWS championship after after coming from behind to beat the then-defending champion Willemstad, Curaçao, 7-6, on Michael Memea’s walk-off home run in the seventh inning.
Could this team from Honolulu bring home the state’s third LLWS championship?
Also, there will undoubtedly be a team or a standout talent that will capture the hearts and imaginations of baseball fans around the country. Whoever it will be this year, could they be from this team from Oahu?
Best of luck to Honolulu LL at this year’s tournament. I’m sure you’ll make your families, friends and fans from around the state proud. (insert shaka emojis here.)
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
Honolulu will win it all. GUARANTEED !!