Bad blood grows even worse - Hawaii show's true colors

Brian Baiotto, Correspondent

Posted: 08/08/2011 10:38:08 PM PDT

ONTARIO - The bad blood between Hawaii and the rest of the nine-team field got even worse in Monday's Little League Senior Division Western Regional semifinals at Jay Littleton Field.

Western Region Little League Director James Gerstenslager was on site, but the tensions didn't diminish.

Korin Medeiros hit a three-run home run in the first inning to get Hilo off to a fast start in a 15-5 victory, and Hawaii first base coach Walter Silva turned to the Chino dugout and said, "This is how you play baseball," followed by profanities, according to Chino manager Henry Herrera and coach Nick Ryan.

"I asked the umpire if he was going to put up with that and I got ejected," Ryan said.

Silva admitted he taunted the Chino dugout but denied using improper language.

"I looked at them and told them that we're going to hit your pitching all game long," Silva said. "I got kicked out because I was bobbing my head around like a bobblehead doll when things started to get heated."

The carryover from Hawaii's win over Rocklin on Saturday and subsequent taunting was evident in the pregame meeting between managers.

"The umpires asked us if we had any questions before we begin the game and I asked, `Are you going to protect our kids from him (Hilo manager Kaha Wong) and his players,' and asked if they were going to put up with what Hilo has been doing to other teams this entire tournament, and the umpires nor Wong took that very well,"

Herrera said.

Herrera later refused to shake hands with Wong, who along with his players left the field immediately after the game and were not available for comment. Silva will not be allowed into Littleton Field tonight in a title-game rematch of last year against defending champion Manhattan Beach.

Herrera openly criticized Hawaii's behavior after beating Rocklin on Saturday. His son, Makaz Herrera, was hit twice Monday and reportedly was asked by a Hawaii player if Henry Herrera was his father.

"They came up and in on my son and I went out to talk to the umpire and he warned both sides and their pitcher and yet he got hit in that at-bat and again no one was ejected," Herrera said. "The umpires are completely intimidated by Hawaii.

"They're bullies, everyone knows it, and there is video of their coach going after a player from Northern California and another one of their players across their side of home plate (after the home run) grabbing his crotch at Northern California, and they (Western Region directors) didn't have the guts to do what's right."

The video was presented to tournament administrator Alan Fitzgerald and Gerstenslager and sent to Little League officials in Williamsport (Pa).

"We sat down with both coaches and watched the video and decided to just move on," Gerstenslager said.

"Williamsport and (Gerstenslager) let down every kid who plays this game the right way by not standing up to bullies and not doing what's right despite having video footage and hundreds of witnesses, including the media," Herrera said.

"They have disgraced the game of baseball and Williamsport showed with its inaction that thugs won't be punished because they didn't have the guts to stop them."

It's the second year in a row in which at least one Hawaii coach was ejected and not allowed to return to the tournament.

"I hope people realize these are 16-year-old young men that are old enough to know better and should be able to win games the right way by celebrating, but without taunting an opponent. Wong obviously condones it," Herrera said.

"They play like they're the victim here, but not one team has had a problem with any other team. There is zero accountability."

Tournament officials said Monday's incidents have been forwarded to Williamsport, where officials will decide if any suspensions should be handed down.

One thing not in question is security will be tight for today's game at 6.

"We are aware of the tension after last year's game between Hawaii and Manhattan Beach and will have extra security added to make sure both teams come and leave safely," Fitzgerald said.

Michelle Gardner contributed to this story.