Tropic Times Vol. VII (April 11 - April 20 '98)

[EchoesIE]

Honolulu, HA -- Roast a pig and get some Luau dancers, the Tropics are in first place through the first 3 weeks of the season! This last week showed the Tropics posting a 7-2 record and taking possession of 1st place in the Pacific. Despite dropping 2 of their first 3 at California, Hawaii rallied back to win their next 6 in a row. Included in that 6 game winning streak was a 12-0 drubbing of Phoenix on the 19th and a 3-hit shutout against California on the 12th. Way to go Tropics!

April 11
Hawaii 6, Valencia 7
Another blown save by Leo Lopez, who gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to secure the walk-off win for Valencia. Steve Cooke was hardly a good starting pitcher, however, giving up 5 runs in less than 3 innings work. Leading the offensive charge was RF Silas Camarena who had a 3 for 5 day, the rest of the offense combined to scramble 10 hits against the Stars, but couldn't find enough runs in the loss.

April 12
Hawaii 6, California 1
The Tropics hopped on a small plane after their loss April 11 and showed up to play against California. SP Alan Hammer pitched all 9 innings, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits. 6 of the 9 starts for the Tropics had a hit, 2B Tim McGraw had a 3 run shot, and C Robin Larker made his only hit of the afternoon worth it...a 2 run blast. Hawaii suffered a small setback however, when upcoming star 2B Hank Felicetti injured his hamstring while jumping for a line drive over his head, initial diagnosis has him out nearly 10 weeks.

April 13
Hawaii 1, California 3
The Tropics were limited to just 4 hits in this loss. SP Freddy Bilbao was handed his first loss of the season, with 7 hits, and 3 runs through 7 IP. The offense was relatively nonexistant, and Robin Larker had an 0 for 4 day with 3 K's...ouch!

April 14
Hawaii 6, California 1
After a terrible offensive day the day before, Hawaii showed up swinging. Robin Larker had a 2 for 4 day with a homerun and 3 RBI. CF Clark Devereaux stole his 3rd base of the season, while contributing 2 hits at his 5 at-bats. SP Remington Little got his 1st win of the sesaon, pitching all 9 innings...giving up only 4 hits on his way to 7 strikeouts.

April 15
Hawaii flew back home.

April 16
Hawaii 7, Chicago 3
Posting their most hits in a game this season, Hawaii had 14 of them. C Kevin Bulder homered as a replacement for Robin Larker. CF Clark Devereaux, LF Mark Gosselaar, RF Jorge Abad all had 2 hits, as the outfield for the Tropics finally came alive. The Tropics stuck with their starting pitcher, Todd Swader, despite the 10 hits against him. Swader received his 1st win of the season.

April 17
Hawaii 5, Chicago 3
C Robin Larker was back in full stride after his day off, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, and a Base on Balls. IF Tim McGraw contributed with his stick as well, McGraw batted in 2 runners in his 2 hits in 3 at-bats. 1B David Smurf was oddly out of it, striking out 3 times in 3 ABs. SP Steve Cooke went 8 innings pitched, getting his 1st win of the year. CP Leo Lopez came in for his 3rd save of the year.

April 18
Hawaii 6, Chicago 4
12 more hits in this game beat out this offensive showcase as Chicago had 10 of their own. The middle of the lineup came through for the Tropics, who had 1B David Smurf, SS Tim McGraw and LF Daniel Fabiano each had 2 hits, a double and a run. SP Alan Hammer again struggled in his 4 IP. 3 other pitchers combined for the next 4 innings before CP Leo Lopez through with his 4th save of the year.

April 19
Hawaii 12, Phoenix 0
We're not sure whats more impressive, Hawaii's 12 runs...or SP Freddy Bilbao's 2 hit shutout, with 9 strikeouts. Hawaii had 3 different players eject balls from the park, including 1B David Smurf's 6th of the season, C Robin Larker's 5th and PH Steve Scroggs' 1st. LF Daniel Fabiano was apparently dangerous, as he was walked in 3 straight AB's. SS George Gutowski had a good day at the dish, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 Runs. Yet it wasn't all smiles -- in the 7th inning, Smurf was hit by a pitch...the 1st pitch after C Robin Larker hit a solo shot to right field. Smurf and Black Sox P Calvin Schiraldi yelled a few times before both threw down and a few punches were thrown, immediately clearing both benches. Smurf was suspended for 2 games for his actions, as well as Schiraldi.


April 20
Hawaii 7, Phoenix 2
Despite not having power bat David Smurf in the lineup, it didn't matter. The Tropics scored all 7 runs in the first 5 innings. C Kevin Bulder had a homerun in his time behind the plate, as Robin Larker moved to 1st. SS Tim McGraw went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 Runs. SS George Gutowski had his 1st homerun of the season in the 2nd inning. SP Remington Little pitched another complete game, allowing 8 hits but only 2 runs for his 2nd win of the year.

~~~

Offensive Player:
C Robin Larker
Larker had 8 hits in 28 AB for a .285 average. Larker had 3 homeruns, 9 RBI and 4 runs in his stretch.

Pitching Player:
SP Remington Little
With 2 wins in his 2 starts, Little was a force on the mound. He pitched in 2 games, going the distance in both games. In those 18 innings pitched, Little had 12 hits against him, but only gave up 2 Earned-Runs. Little also had 15 K's on top of his 1.18 WHIP.

[recte44]

Is Larker going to prove me wrong? We'll see how much you like that deal when he's a couple years older....but for now it seems he's in the prime of his career!