It’s All Star Week and the Hawaii Tropics finish the “First Half” of the season with a four game series vs the Vancouver Mounties at DiamondHead.
Game 1- Tropics LF Jose Camacho and 1B Ernest McBride combine for 4 homers, 6 runs and 10 RBI as the Trops cruise to a victory.
Camacho was 2 for 2 (2 homers) scored 2 runs, drove in 6 and walked 3 times.
McBride was 2 for 4 (2 homers) scored 2 runs and drove in 4 runs.
RF Mike Campbell was 2 for 5 (single, homer) a run scored and 2 RBI.
SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani struggled through 4 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, a walk and struck out 4.
RP Felipe Lopez picked up his 3rd win pitching 2 1/3 innings in relief allowing just a hit and struck out 1 batter. He moves to 3-0 with a 3.45 ERA.
RP Maxime Manceau earned his first save of the season as he pitched 2 1/3 innings allowing just a hit and struck out 3 batters.
Hawaii wins 12-5.
Game 2- The Hawaii Tropics go into the ninth leading 4-2 when the Vancouver Mounties Offense ambushes Tropics RP Norm McConnell for 3 runs and steal a win at Diamond Head.
McConnell was uncharacteristically bad as he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, 2 of which were homers in an inning of work. It is his 5th blown save of the season and he falls to 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA.
SP Alaric Wullenweber was brilliant as usual pitching 8 innings allowing just a run on 5 hits, walked one and struck out 7 batters. He lowered his ERA to 3.97 on the season.
CF Doeke Soethout was 1 for 3 (solo homer). Soethout is hitting .290 with 16 homers and 45 RBI.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 1 for 4 (2 run homer).
1B Ernest McBride was 2 for 4 (double, solo homer) a run and an RBI.
Vancouver wins 5-4.
Game 3- With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, DH Manuel Aguilar, Jr. doubled to drive in the go ahead run and 3B Gary Allen singled, driving in Aguilar for an insurance run.
Tropics SP Jesus Gonzalez was excellent allowing 3 unearned runs (0 earned) through 8 innings of work. He surrendered just 3 hits, walked no one and struck out 7. He improves to 6-8 with a 3.98 ERA.
RP Norm McConnell came on to earn his 17th save of the season giving up a hit and striking out 1 in the ninth.
1B Ernest McBride was 2 for 5 (double, solo homer).
CF Doeke Soethout was 1 for 4 (solo homer).
LF Bastiao Fardos was 2 for 4 (single, double) scored 2 runs and walked.
Aguilar was 2 for 5 (single, double) with a run scored and an RBI.
Allen was 1 fo 3 (single) with an RBI.
Hawaii wins 5-3.
Game 4- The Vancouver Mounties pound out 13 hits and score 13 runs to earn a series split with the Tropics.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 1 for 3 (Grand Slam).
SP Stephen Taub stunk it up over 2 2/3 innings allowing 6 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and a walk. He struck out 2 in the loss.
Vancouver wins 13-6.
After the game the Tropics introduce new Bench Coach Antonio Martinez. Martinez is inexperienced at the BBA Level but has a reputation of being a players coach. GM Jim Walker said, "We have no problems giving guys a shot. He had a brief stint in San Antonio but it didn't last long. We are going to give him a long leash."
