Steve Leis knew what he'd find in San Bernardino, California. He couldn't wait to help his Kihei Little League all-star team make the journey.

"I was on the mainland in the summer of 1991 on vacation in Upland", explained Leis, "and somehow found my way to San Bernardino, and watched the '91 East Maui team" in Little League's Western Region tournament.

"I watched them in the championship game against a pitcher (San Ramon Valley Little League's Kevin Graham) who eventually pitched against Taiwan in the World Series," said Leis. "Since that time, my enthusiasm has been really high for Little League for more reasons than just baseball -- the kids are what's important."

Leis soon helped build the fledgling Kihei Little League program from the ground up, staying active in the league long after his children's Little League days had passed. None of Kihei's 2004 all-star team members had been born when Leis made his initial visit to Al Houghton Stadium, but together they helped him return -- this time as a participant rather than a spectator.

Kihei won four consecutive games at the Hawaii state tournament at Pui'iki Beach Park in Waialua, including a 6-4 championship game win over Aiea Little League that gave the league its first-ever state championship. Kihei became the first Maui team since that 1991 East Maui squad to win the Hawaii championship in the major baseball division, and advanced to the Northwest Region tournament in San Bernardino.

"Last year, we won the district for the first time and 'participated' in the states," said Leis after his team's championship game victory. "We won the district again, and this time, we 'competed' at the states. We work really hard . . . this is so fantastic for these kids."

Kihei returned five players from its 2003 district championship team, and the veterans led the way in Kihei's 1-0 victory over West Oahu in the opening round. Jordan Negrini hurled a four-hitter and made a first inning run hold up. Michael Diaz led off the bottom of the first with a triple before his brother Joshua drove him in with a single up the middle. Negrini kept West Oahu's bats at bay with a walk-free, seven strikeout performance, and catcher Isaiah Diaz threw out a pair of baserunners at second base to preserve the wins.

The three Diaz brothers are triplets, and come from a strong baseball pedigree. Their father, Michael Sr., was a standout at Baldwin High School, and his brother played professionally in the Milwaukee Brewer organization.

"They all play key positions on the team, " said Leis, "Not only are they talented athletes, but they're great kids . . . It's a privilege to coach all three of them."

Isaiah handled Kihei's catching duties, while Michael played shortstop. Joshua shared the team's pitching duties with Negrini: the two combined to pitch 40 of the team's 42 innings en route to the state championship.

"We're pretty fortunate to have really two number one pitchers," said Leis.

Joshua Diaz followed Negrini's stellar opening game outing with a two-hitter in Kihei's 12-3 win over Pearl City. The District 3 champions had thirteen hits and raced to a 7-0 lead after two innings. Joshua Diaz was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Justin Fontanilla and Isaiah Diaz had a pair of hits. Negrini doubled and drove in a pair of runs, while Earle Van Alst added two RBIs of his own.

The win moved Kihei into a matchup with Aiea. The longtime District 6 power had routed Kihei in a mercy rule-shortened 14-3 decision in 2003, but Negrini pitched a complete game and drove in three runs to lead his team past Aiea by a 6-4 margin. Kihei led 6-1 after five innings before Ryan Cortez's one out, three-run homer in the sixth pulled Aiea closer. Negrini recorded the second out and endured a 45-minute rain delay before securing the win with a game-ending grounder to short. Kihei's win moved a Maui team into the state championship game for the first time since 1992.

"This put us in the catbird seat," said Kihei coach Kelly Fliear. "This is huge for Kihei, huge for Maui."

Two days later, Kihei rallied from an early deficit to top Aiea by the same score and claim its first state championship. Dylan Tawata's three-run pinch homer in the top of the first gave Aiea the early edge, but Isaiah Diaz sliced the lead with a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the inning. Michael Diaz tripled in a run in the second, and David Sifton's RBI single fueled a three-run rally that gave Kihei the lead for good. In the sixth, Tawata's second pinch homer of the game cut Kihei's lead to 6-4, and Kainoa Ahsing's double brought the tying run to the plate before Michael Diaz ended the game with a pair of strikeouts. Michael Diaz struck out eleven in the game, including the side in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.

"Kihei is a good ballclub," said Aiea manager Terry Fuellas after the game. "They're good fastball hitters and they put the ball in play. I think they'll do alright (in San Bernardino)."

"This league has come a long way," said Leis of Kihei's progress, "but I don't think it has come any further than was originally envisioned.

"We have been at work for a long time and we have been waiting for a long time," added Leis. "This is a great group of kids and I couldn't be happier for them or their parents and the league and the community."