KAPA‘A — “Every time he got into the batter’s box, he got stronger,” one of the Kawaihau Twins’ coaches, Jerry Sullivan, said. “His goal was to get to first base.” Sullivan spoke to members of the Twins, their opponents the
KAPA‘A — “Every time he got into the batter’s box, he got stronger,” one of the Kawaihau Twins’ coaches, Jerry Sullivan, said. “His goal was to get to first base.”
Sullivan spoke to members of the Twins, their opponents the Marlins, and representatives of the Kawaihau Little League, who had gathered for a special tribute to the Twins’ right fielder, Payton Bryan-Chung, who died after a residential accident in Princeville Sunday.
“When he didn’t make it (to first base), he would cry, and the coaches would tell him, ‘That’s all right. Let’s work on the next plays,'” Sullivan continued, as the ball players huddled around home plate at the Kapa‘a New Park’s main diamond prior to the start of their Wednesday-afternoon game.
“Today, Payton got a home run! He’s doing his dance and watching us as a guest of the King in his mansion,” Sullivan said. “He cannot be with us physically, but he will always be with us spiritually.”
Sullivan asked all the people who had gathered to remember the right fielder in the Twins’ jersey #7 by recalling one good thing they shared with Bryan-Chung, and in the physical absence of the ball player, to support Maile Bryan, Payton’s mom, who was at the center of the gathering clutching her son’s jersey that was presented to her by the Twins’ manager Peter Soares.
Earlier in the afternoon, team members held the jersey high as they did a lap of tribute in memory of their comrade. Pinned on the sleeve of each coach and player for the Twins was a black-rimmed yellow ribbon bearing “PBC#7.”
Andrea Gray, the team mom for the Indians, was busy in the stands, sewing yellow ribbons onto sleeves of more coaches and players as they arrived for the special remembrance of the Twins’ player.
Gray explained that, due to safety reasons, the ribbons could not be safety-pinned onto the sleeves, and she worked steadily to fasten ribbons by sewing them on with needle and thread.
She also said that, because the Twins’ uniform was yellow, their ribbons were rimmed in black to make it stand out from the uniforms.
Giants Coach Fig Mitchell presented Bryan with a special baseball signed by members of the Kawaihau Little League, and in a final gesture before the first pitch was thrown, the players were issued yellow ribbons to be tied onto the fence in the outfield.
As the players scurried to their task, the Twins flocked to right field along with Bryan, who attached her yellow ribbon above the ones placed by the Little Leaguers.
“When you hit a home run, the yellow ribbons fluttering in the wind will be Payton waving to you as you round the bases,” Nadine Rapozo told the players.
“And, I want to see you do it,” Bryan told the players as they gathered in a collective huddle for a “Payton” cheer.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
