WHEREAS, baseball is America's favorite pastime and enjoyed by millions of people both young and old; and

WHEREAS, the Cal Ripken Baseball Division, a baseball league established in 2000 for 4 to 12 year olds, seeks to provide every youngster the opportunity to play baseball and have fun; and

WHEREAS, on August 12 – 21, 2005, the Cal Ripken Baseball Division held its annual World Series tournament in Aberdeen, Maryland, involving ten United States teams and five international teams; and

WHEREAS, the Oahu Stars, comprised of players from all areas of Oahu, represented Hawaii as the HAWAII CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL TEAM and went undefeated in pool play, advancing to the United States championship round after soundly defeating six other teams from the United States; and

WHEREAS, in an edge-of-your-seat thriller against long-time series champion, Mexico, the HAWAII CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL TEAM beat Mexico 1-0, and became the 2005 Cal Ripken Baseball World Series Champions; and

WHEREAS, members of the HAWAII CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL TEAM, Timothy Arakawa, Ryan Cortez, Jordan DePonte, Jake Fujimoto, Dylan Goto, Kash Kalohelani, Wilkins Kato, Kalani Lagoc-Crawford, Kewby Meyer, Gavin Okada, Cory Quiamzon, Christopher Sekiguchi, Ryan Yamane, and Joseph Yokoi; Manager Gerald Oda; and Coaches Keith Oda and Staphe Fujimoto, through their commitment to playing baseball with the aloha spirit, have brought pride to the people of Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body hereby commends and congratulates the HAWAII CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL TEAM on winning the Cal Ripken World Series and extends to each member of the team, and the managers and coaches, its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

Report Title:

Hawaii Cal Ripken Baseball Team