Hawai'i knows baseball.

That could be a bumper sticker, but it's also the truth, as illustrated once again with Hilo's victory over Mexico in the Cal Ripken World Series last weekend in Maryland.

This great victory for players 12 and under follows on last year's championship victory by O'ahu in the same series, also against Mexico.

And it makes up for the 2004 Ripken World Series, where Hilo made it to the finals but lost to Mexico.

It was a sweet return for Hilo, and it adds to the luster built last year when West O'ahu Little Leaguers won the older Little League World Series in dramatic comeback fashion at Williamsport.

What's doubly impressive is the sportsmanship and hard work that goes into these triumphs. It's not easy to get all the way from Hawai'i to the Mainland, where a grueling series of regional playoffs lead to the Big Game.

While this team was from Hilo, manager Kaha Wong made the point all of us recognize: "The thing is, up here we're Hawai'i, not Hilo."

That's right. And all Hawai'i is proud.