TAYLOR, Mich. — Kawika Pruett promised this moment would come.

Pruett in 2005 followed his older brother, Alika Pruett, to suburban Detroit and watched intently as Pearl City lost in the United States final of the Junior League World Series. When that game ended, the younger brother turned to his parents, Hubert and Renee, and swore he'd bring them back.

Two years later, here was an older Kawika Pruett, batting yesterday against the Philippines with the final game of the World Series on the line. Pruett, better known to his teammates as Sumi, can now be called something else: promise keeper.

Pruett drove the first pitch of his sixth-inning at-bat all the way to the right-centerfield fence, bringing home two Pearl City runners for a 5-2 lead. He then scored on a wild pitch, essentially sealing the championship. Pearl City won, 6-2, becoming champions of the world.

"Just another at-bat," Pruett said, insisting he felt no pressure. "I told my mom I'd bring them back one year. This happened to be the year."

Except this time — after failing to win the title in three straight trips to the World Series — the long ride home will be a lot sweeter.

"This is the best," Renee Pruett said, beaming with pride. "For him to say he was gonna bring us back, we knew it."

Everyone — players, coaches and fans — who followed the team seemed to know something was different. Perhaps there was more experience, more depth or more confidence.

Or, maybe, a little destiny. Pearl City's errors never seemed costly. The team shook off bad starts, bad innings and the bad karma of previous years.

"I don't know how many people believe in it," manager Mitchell Yamato said, "but I believe in baseball gods."

If Yamato is right, then those gods smiled upon Pearl City all week. Undefeated in World Series play, the team went 30 innings without giving up an earned run. That streak finally ended when the Philippines scored two runs in the fourth inning, taking a 2-1 lead.

But pitcher Kahana Neal was otherwise flawless, seemingly gaining strength as the game progressed. Neal pitched a complete game, striking out six, and capping a strong season.

With a huge crowd present and ESPN cameras rolling, Neal and his teammates became more confident.

"Before the game, I was a little nervous, but after the first inning, it went away," Neal said.

The Philippines maintained a 2-1 lead until Isaac Shim walked and scored in the fourth, tying the game for Pearl City.

The score remained tied until the sixth when Christian Perkins doubled, Neal walked and Chace Numata singled home Perkins for the go-ahead run. Pruett then followed with his double and run, punctuating the win.

Neal struck out the first batter of the seventh inning and ended the game on a double play.

Celebration and tears followed the final out, as Pearl City players, coaches and parents enjoyed the community's first World Series championship since 1984. Scott Sato, who watched his son, Keanu, win the World Series, was a part of that 1984 team.

"It's something special, something really special," Sato said of sharing the accomplishment with his son. "I got all teary-eyed after the game."

But mostly, Pearl City partied, bringing a boom box onto the field and blasting reggae music late into the dark and rainy Michigan night. Nathan Numata, whose sons Chace and Chevas played for Pearl City, served as the unofficial master of ceremonies throughout the week, bringing a taste of Hawaiian music to the Mainland.

"One thing we always had was that boom box with us," Numata said. "In the pre-game, and all the way through the game, we've just been slammin'."

One last time, as players posed for pictures and took turns holding the World Series trophy, Numata pushed play on what has become the most popular tune: "Hot Like Fire."

There couldn't be a more fitting description of this Pearl City team.