Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the Hilo All-Stars, the 2006 Cal Ripken Baseball World Champions. This is the second consecutive year that a team from Hawaii captured the 12 & under title. Last year, a Honolulu squad defeated Mexico, by a score of one-to-nothing, to win the championship game.

On Sunday, August 20, Hilo won the Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, Maryland against international champions Mexico, by the score of five-to-two. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam hit a two-run homer and Kawika Pruett added a two-run single to rally Hilo against Mexico’s powerful pitching staff that allowed only three runs in the tournament. Mexico threatened in the third inning, but Kean Wong came in to pitch out of a bases loaded jam, holding Mexico to just one run.

The Hilo All-Star team members are: Anson Arruda, Ridge Hoopii-Haslam, Dean Hosaka, Jordan Jinbo, Chayce Kaaua, Kian Kurokawa, Rylan Malakaua, Ekolu Martins, Cody Ray Okabayashi, Kawika Pruett, Kean Wong, and Kiani Wong. Kaha Wong manages the All-Stars and Wardell "Baba" Lancaster and Jason Jinbo are team coaches.

I am proud of Hilo’s impressive wins, and the humility and sportsmanship they displayed as they won with aloha. Hilo represented the state of Hawaii, and the United States very well. Many family members and friends made sacrifices to support the team. I applaud these efforts and wish all the players and their families the best in future endeavors.

I look forward to hearing more about the success of our players as they continue to pursue their education and baseball ambitions in the future, and I extend the same congratulations and best wishes to all players and coaches who participated in this year's Cal Ripken Baseball World Series.

Thank you, Mr. President.