The Tropics begin the second half of the season at home with a four game series with the Madison Wolves at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics get 6 hits, 4 homers and score 9 runs in the series opener. 3B Gary Allen (solo homer), 1B Ernest McBride (2 run homer), RF Mike Campbell (3 run homer) and CF Doeke Soethout (solo homer) provided the power for the offense.
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SP Zak Johnson did just enough with 6 IP, 4 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks and 9 Ks. He wins his 7th game of the season and has a 4.54 ERA.
Hawaii wins 9-6.
Game 2- The Wolves jump out to a lead 4-1 but 1B Ernest McBride leads the Hawaii comeback. McBride was 2 for 3 (double, 2 run homer) with 2 runs and 3 RBI.
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 4 (double, solo homer) with a run scored and 3 RBI.
LF Jose Camacho was 2 for 4 (single, double) with 2 runs scored.
SP Alaric Wullenweber struggled but won the game with 5 1/3 IP, 4 runs, 6 hits, 4 walks and 7 Ks. He is now 8-6 with a 4.08 ERA. After the game Wullenweber said, “I was a little wild out there, but I think that helped me out. I walked a few, but it kept them on their toes.”
RP Norm McConnell closed out his 18th save of the season allowing a meaningless run in the ninth on 2 hits and a walk.
Hawaii wins 7-5.
Game 3- Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, CF Doeke Soethout hit a 2 out, 2 run double to put Hawaii up 6-5. RP Norm McConnell came on in the ninth to nail down the win and earn his 19th save of the season.
Soethout was 3 for 5 (2 singles, double) with a run and 2 RBI.
RF Mike Campbell was 3 for 4 (2 doubles, homer) with 2 runs and an RBI.
C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 (2 singles) with a run and 2 RBI.
SP Jesus Gonzalez pitched 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 5.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
Game 4- The Wolves hold off the Tropics and avoid the sweep.
SP Stephen Taub was pedestrian with a line of 6 IP, 4 runs, 6 hits, 4 walks and 7 Ks. He falls to 7-6 with a 5.40 ERA.
RP Luis Santiago pitched well in relief with 3 IP, no runs, no hits, 3 walks and 3 Ks to give the Tropics Offense a chance to make a late run.
RF Mike Campbell homered again (1 for 2) with 2 runs, an RBI and 2 walks. Campbell is hitting .326 with 19 homers and 72 RBI this season. Manager Kelly Finley said of Campbell, “He has been the steadying force on this team. When we need that big hit or that big play, he makes it.”
Madison wins 4-3 and Hawaii wins the series 3-1.
The Tropics make a trip to the mainland for a 3 game series with the Long Beach Surfers at Vito Constantino Memorial Stadium.
Game 1- The Trops grind out 14 hits and 7 runs and the pitching staff hold the Surfers to just a run on 4 hits as the visitors take the opener.
Rookie SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani took nice step forward with 5 IP, 1 run, 3 hits, 2 walks and 4 Ks. He is now 2-1 with a 6.98 ERA.
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RP Luis Torres earned his 3rd hold with 2 IP, 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk and 2 Ks.
RP Dominic Lawrence had 2 IP with 4 Ks.
CF Doeke Soethout was 3 for 5 (2 singles, homer) scored a run, drove in 3 and stole his 14th base of the season.
1B Ernest McBride was 2 for 4 (single, homer) scored 2 runs, drove in 1 and walked once.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 4 (single, triple) and drove in 2 runs.
Hawaii wins 7-1.
Game 2- There is a disturbing trend that seems to happen when Zak Johnson is on the mound. Errors, errors and more errors. This game saw 2 more errors, this tome both committed by Johnson himself. The first error occurred in the bottom of the fourth when covering first. He dropped the throw from 1B Ernest McBride. The second error came on a pick off attempt in the bottom of the sixth as Johnson threw it wide of McBride allowing the runner to advance to second. That was the worst that happened to Johnson as he was otherwise tough on the Long Beach lineup. Zak pitched 7 1/3 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, 4 walks and struck out 5 batters. He improves to 8-6 and now sports a 4.33 ERA.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 1 for 4 (3 run homer).
2B Jack “Junkyard” Nichols was 1 for 4 (solo homer).
LF Jose Camacho was 2 for 5 (double, homer) with a run and an RBI.
3B Gary Allen exited the game with an apparent foot injury.
Hawaii wins 6-2.
Game 3- Long Beach SP Danya “Satan’s Whelp” Tchekanov dominated the Hawaii Tropics when the Surfers needed a win. With the Long Beach lineup having to contend with Alaric Wullenweber, Tchekanov was equally formidable. Tchekanov pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up 5 hits, issued a walk and struck out 9.
Wullenweber was just as good with 7 1/3 IP, 3 hits, a walk and 10 Ks. But this came down to the bullpens. Again, RP Norm McConnell coughed up the game allowing a 3 run homer to end it.
3B Leonard Jones replaced Gary Allen at third. Allen has plantar fasciitis and will be out for at least 5 weeks. Jones was 2 for 3 (single, double) in his stead.
Manager Kelly Finley said, “We are calling up SS Tom Lindsey to back up Jones and Fernie at short. Wr are losing some offense with Allen out but get some better defense in here. We will see how it works out.”
Long Beach wins 3-0. Hawaii wins the series 2-1.
