VANCOUVER - Few managers take their teams to baseball's Little League World Series more than once — but Vito Bordignon is an exception.

Bordignon, manager of Canadian champion Hastings All-Stars of Vancouver, is cherishing his second chance at a world title in Williamsport, Pa., this year after getting there initially in 2009.

"It seems like the first time," Bordignon said Wednesday via telephone from Williamsport before his team took part in a parade. "It's a new experience for all these kids. I'm lucky to have a second time to come here. It's a great experience. We've been treated like royalty, and the kids are having a great time. It's the mecca of all of baseball right now."

Bordignon, a 46-year-old controller with a construction-equipment distributor, is among countless volunteers who attempt to grow the game in Canada and other parts of the world. He grew up and played Little League in the Hastings community, a working-class neighbourhood located in Vancouver's East End near the Pacific National Exhibition grounds.

Although he lives in Port Coquitlam, B.C., and works in nearby Coquitlam, he continues to make a long commute for games and practices to Hastings, where he has guided clubs for 28 years. He has three provincial titles and two national crowns to his credit.

Unlike many other Little League coaches, Bordignon has no children of his own who have played the game. He has kept coaching just for the love of the game and the chance to see his players develop memories.

"It's high spectacle, but it's really about the kids, and the way they interact with each other is just phenomenal," he said. "You'll never forget it.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to see these kids gain this kind of experience — once in a lifetime — because you can't see this anywhere else."

Vancouver-Hastings is one of 16 teams from around the globe that have advanced to the tournament that draws thousands to Williamsport, a small city of about 30,000. Bordignon has returned to the Little League shrine by guiding a whole new crew of 11 and 12-year-olds to an 18-1 record in district, provincial and national championship play.

Vancouver-Hastings qualified by beating Prairie representative Lethbridge Southwest 11-1 in the Canadian final in Edmonton last weekend.

During Bordignon's first visit to Williamsport, his club did not make it out of the group stage of the International pool. The task will not be any easier this time as Vancouver-Hastings opens play Friday against Mexico, a three-time champion.

"We don't know a lot about them," said Bordignon. "But we do know that, traditionally, Mexico is a strong team. They'll have some big players and some strong players who can throw the ball pretty hard. It's always competitive in the International pool."

The group includes perennial powerhouse Taiwan, Curacao, Germany, Japan, Panama and Uganda. The other pool contains American teams.

Canada has never won a Little League World Series title, and the only Canadian team to reach the final was Ontario's Stoney Creek back in 1965. Last year, Langley, B.C., was eliminated by Japan in the playoff round.

Now that he is back in Williamsport a second time, Bordignon hopes his experience can help his players.

"This game is just a simple game," he said. "Don't try to change. Just go out there and do the best you can. Do what brought you here, and make sure you stay focused."

Vancouver-Hastings has strong pitching and fielding, but Bordignon said hitting will be the difference between success and disappointment in Williamsport. In seven games at the Canadian championships, Vancouver-Hastings produced 74 runs while only allowing two and posting five shutouts.

In addition to battling top clubs, Vancouver-Hastings will also have to conquer the inevitable jitters that come with playing on such a large stage for the first time. Bordignon hopes he will be less awestruck and can help his club prepare better than he did during his first trip in 2009.

"We're going to be very competitive every game we play, and we're going to be in a position to win games," he said.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2012