Hawaii hosts the California Crusaders in a three game series at Diamond Head.
Game 1- Crusader SP Luis Gracia out pitched the Tropics young ace SP Alaric Wullenweber in the opener. Gracia pitched 7 shutout innings on his way to his first win of the season. Wullenweber went 6 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 10 hitters while giving up a homer. He falls to 0-1 on the season with a 3.95 ERA.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 1 for 4.
1B Manuel Aguilar, Jr. was for 1 for 3.
California wins 3-0.
Game 2- SP Jim “Bullets” Wilkinson struggled in his second start of the season. In 3 1/3 innings he surrendered 5 runs (2 earned) on 9 hits while he struck out 5. He falls to 1-1 with a 3,97 ERA on the season.
3B Gary Allen was the lone bright spot for the Hawaii Offense as he was 3 for 4 with a homer, run scored and 3 RBI. He is hitting .310 with 1 homer and 4 RBI on the season.
California wins 6-3.
Game 3- This game was a departure from previous games as hitting took the stage front and center. California was up 3-1 when they hit Hawaii with 4 runs in the sixth. Hawaii answered with just 1 run in the bottom half of the innings. Up 7-2, the Crusaders added a run in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning the Tropics put up a 6 spot to tie the game. The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth.
RF Mike Campbell singled and was moved over on a fielders choice off the bat of DH Ettienne LaFitte. 3B Gary Allen was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second with one out. 2B Jack “Junkyard” Nichols stepped to the plate 0 for 2 on the day. Nichols took the first pitch ball one. Nichols then ripped the sidearm splitter from RP Juan Guerrero foul down the third base line for strike one. With the count 1-1, Guerrero doubled up on the splitter and paid for it as Nichols crushed it into left center for a 3 run walk off homer to salvage the final game of the series.
LF Bastiao Fardos was 3 for 5 on the day with a solo homer and a double. He scored 2 runs and drove in 3. Fardos is hitting .476 with 2 homers and 7 RBI this season.
Mike Campbell was 2 for 5 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.
Gary Allen continues his hot streak as he was 2 for 3 with 2 homers 3 runs scored, 2 RBI and 2 walks.
Hawaii wins 11-8.
The Des Moines Kernels are in town for a quick two game series at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Trops score single runs in the eighth and ninth to secure their second consecutive win. SP Stephen Taub was solid in 7 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 in the no decision. He has posted a minuscule 1.98 ERA so far this season.
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 4 with a walk.
3B Gary Allen was 2 for 5 with 2 ribbies.
2B Jack Nichols was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Hawaii wins 4-3.
Game 2- The Kernels Offense roughed up SP Maxime Manceau for 6 runs over 3 1/3 innings as the Tropics fall 9-2.
C Steffen Peterson led the offense going 2 for 3 with a homer, a run scored and 2 RBI.
2B Jack Nichols was 2 for 4.
GM's take: We are gonna juggle the rotation a bit and see how that works out.
