BANGOR, Maine — Gabrielle Malaki has crossed oceans and continents to play baseball this week at the Senior League World Series.
But unlike his teammates from Makati City, Philippines, Malaki’s arrival at Mansfield Stadium was greeted by a phalanx of local fans.
That’s because Malaki’s father, Todd, is a native of the central Maine town of Clinton who attended Clinton Elementary School and Lawrence High School in Fairfield before joining the U.S.Navy in 1989.
The family, including Todd, his Filipino-born wife Lorna, and Gabrielle, have returned to Maine over the years. But with his dad a career military man — now a lieutenant who serves as supply officer for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain DDG 56 — those opportunities have been rather infrequent.
That is, until baseball intervened earlier this summer, when Makati City qualified for the Senior League World Series by winning the Asia Pacific championship.
“The last time I came to Maine was a year ago January, so I was pretty excited,” said Gabrielle, an outfielder. “Today I got to see relatives on my dad’s side. There were a lot of them here, probably more than 10 people.”
Gabrielle Malaki, born in San Diego, Calif., has played youth baseball around the world while following his dad’s military path, with early stops including Hanford, Calif., and Pearl City, Hawaii.
“Baseball’s been something that when I get a chance, Gabe and I are able to connect with as father and son,” said Todd Malaki, who fondly recalls his own days of playing for an undefeated farm league team sponsored by the Clinton Jaycees.
The USS John S. McCain —commissioned at Bath Iron Works in 1994 — currently calls Yokosuna, Japan, its home port, and that’s where the Malakis have spent their recent years.
That’s also where Gabrielle’s baseball career began to flourish — particularly when he was the lone American on a Yokohama team that won the All-Japan tournament in its age group.
Gabrielle has spent the last year in Makati City, an upscale section of the Philippine capital of Manila, a decision made when his father originally planned to retire from the Navy this year to settle in his wife’s native nation.
But when Todd Malaki decided to extend his naval career, Gabrielle chose to stay in Makati City for the year with an uncle and his family, both to learn more about his heritage and to continue playing baseball.
“It’s been good to play here,” said Gabrielle, who joined a Makati City Senior League program comprised largely of players from the city’s 2007 Junior League team that finished second in its World Series and a 2008 squad that also competed in the Junior League World Series.
This year’s Makati City Senior League team began World Series pool play with a 1-1 record, losing to Fremont, Calif., 4-1 in its opener before defeating host Bangor 11-3 on Monday.
The Asia Pacific champs beat Greenville, S.C. 4-3 on Tuesday and closes out pool play against Cornwall, Ontario, today at 1 p.m.
“It’s been kind of a homecoming,” said Todd, who currently is staying at a relative’s camp in the Belgrade Lakes region during this visit to Maine.
“Saturday before the championship game I’ve got to leave, but I’m just happy my CO [commanding officer] let me come here. We’re in the middle of a training cycle and he was really hesitant about sending me, but in the end he sent me.”
Gabrielle Malaki will return to Japan with his family after the Senior League World Series, but only briefly.
His dad will be stationed in Singapore beginning in the fall, and that’s where the younger Malaki expects to spend his final two years of high school — and undoubtedly play some more baseball.
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