WAIPAHU — The skies cleared a bit too late last night at Hans L'Orange Park.

Hawaii Winter Baseball's championship between the North Shore Honu and Waikiki BeachBoys was canceled because of rain. The game could not be made up because most of the players and coaches had flights today. Some, in fact, had red eyes last night. Also, safety was an issue for the players, some of whom are future major leaguers.

"I'm very disappointed," Waikiki manager Donovan Mitchell said. "It would've been a good championship game. We had our best pitcher (Kyohei Muranaka) going against one of their best pitchers (Shinya Nakayama). You just never would've known in a one-game playoff. But you can't do anything about Mother Nature."

The Honu (26-12), the Western Division champion, was named the overall champion by virtue of having the best record. The BeachBoys (19-19), the East champion, were named the runner-up. Their .500 record was the second-best mark in the four-team developmental league.

"It was kind of the downer for the fans and a downer for us because we didn't get to play it out to see who really would've won," said Honu third baseman Mat Gamel, the league's MVP. "But I understand the field was kind of unsafe, so it's really not worth getting anybody hurt to the point where it might be a career-ending injury."

For their title, the Honu received Sony Walkmans, while the BeachBoys were given Sony noise-canceling headphones.

"Unfortunately, you never want to settle it with a rainout, but at the same time, I'm very proud of these guys," Honu manager Kevin Bradshaw said of his players. "The record we had, the way we went about our business, the way we played the game. Our win-loss record speaks for itself.

"These guys (the BeachBoys) made it interesting down the stretch. It would've been a great game."

Still, the several hundred or so fans that showed up were treated to food and drinks on the league. Prizes that were to be given out during the game were still drawn out for those who stayed. Fans also left with autographs and if they were lucky enough, equipment, from players not wanting to lug their stuff home.

"At this age, I take things as they come," HWB chairman Duane Kurisu said. "We'll just go with the flow and we're just going to make a party of it."

Still, the rainout could not put a damper on the season. Kurisu was pleased that the season even got off. With Les Murakami Stadium's unavailability because of its turf replacement project, Kurisu said Major League Baseball threatened to pull out. He said HWB president Hervy Kurisu was able to convince officials that Hans L'Orange Park could be upgraded to MLB's standards.

Expansion, especially to Maui, where Duane Kurisu said support has been great, is still unknown.

"We'll take each year as it comes," he said.

For the most part, players accomplished their goals. For many, it was just getting more playing time. For others, it was to sharpen other skills. For Gamel, it was fielding. Yet, his bat never took a day off, it seemed. Gamel led the league with 40 hits, a .608 slugging percentage and 25 runs scored. He was tied for third in the league in hitting at .333, tied for second in home runs with six and tied for second with 25 RBIs.

"I really tried to focus on defense," Gamel said. "I feel I made a lot of improvements there. That was the main thing I tried to get out of this."

Gamel said the overall experienced was rewarding, from seeing new sights and learning new cultures. The teams were made up of players from MLB farm systems and the Nippon Professonal Baseball league's prospects.

"It was a good learning experience, playing with all the Japanese players," Gamel said. "To learn their culture, to learn what they think about the game, their philosophies because their philosophies are different from ours. I enjoyed it. I had a real good time."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.

HWB ALL-STAR TEAM

(voted by media and league officials).

1B—Ian Gac, West Oahu.

2B—Miguel Abreu, Honolulu.

3B—Mat Gamel, North Shore.

SS—Argenis Diaz, Honolulu.

OF—Austin Jackson, Honolulu.

OF—Michael Wilson, Waikiki.

OF—Fuminori Yokogawa, Honolulu.

C—Michael McKenry, Waikiki.

U—Brandon Synder, Honolulu.

SP—Shinya Nakayama, North Shore.

SP—Yutaka Tamaki, Waikiki.

SP—Keisaku Itokazu, West Oahu.

RP—Ken Miyamoto, West Oahu.

RP—Takashi Kamoshida, North Shore.

RP—Daniel Bard, Honolulu.

Pitcher of the Year: Yutaka Tamaki, Waikiki.

Offensive Player of the Year: Mat Gamel, North Shore.

Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Sellers, Waikiki.

Most Valuable Player: Mat Gamel, North Shore.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.