The Hawaii Tropics play a four game series with Pacific Division Rival San Fernando with a wildcard spot on the line.
Game 1- Rookie Pitcher Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani gave the Tropics a chance with a great effort. Destefani threw 8 innings of 1 hit ball, walking 1 and striking out 7 batters. He finishes the season 7-4 with a 3.96 ERA.
RP Felipe Lopez finished what Destefani started surrendering just a walk while striking out 3.
LF Bastiao Fardos led the offense with 3 hits in 5 at bats. He singled, doubled twice and scored 2 runs.
DH Ernest McBride hit a 2 run homer (1 for 4).
1B Manuel Aguilar, Jr. also hit a 2 run homer (1 for 4).
C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI.
Hawaii wins 8-0 and keeps their hopes alive.
Game 2- San Fernando scores early then they have to hold on late as the Tropics charge back.
SP Jesus Gonzalez struggled for 2 innings getting hammered for 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk. He struck out 4 but 6 of those hits he gave up were homers. He was relived by Alaric Wullenweber who steadied the ship going 3 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, no walks and struck out 7 batters. GM James Walker and Manager Kelly Finley were asked what their thinking on using Wullenweber in relief.
Walker said, “ We decided that we could use him to get us out of trouble and give us a chance in more than one game.”
Finley said, “We huddled up last night. Alaric said he would do anything to win. It gets our best pitcher on the field more often. I just need to manage the use.”
Manuel Aguilar, Jr. was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.
San Fernando wins 7-4 leaving Hawaii on the brink of being out of the playoffs.
Game 3- The Bears and Tropics had a thriller at Chico’s Bail Bond Field. Hawaii jumped out to lead 4-2 after the first inning. The Bear crept a bit closer with 1 in the second. The Tropics received some breathing room with a run scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of CF Michel Noel. San Fernando then score 3 in the seventh and 1 in the eighth to go up 7-5. Hawaii then had the offense come back and score 3 in the top of the ninth.
RP Norm McConnell came on for the save in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a run to tie it up and give the fans some free baseball. The game remained tied until the top of the eleventh. Bastiao Fardos singled, Ernest McBride singled and RF Mike Campbell flied out. Stepping to the plate was relative unknown Tom Lindsey. Lindsey hit a ball between first and second allowing Fardos to show his speed and score from second. Lindsey also showed some wheels beating the play at first. Ron Shiplack hit a ball back up the box but McBride was quick enough to move over to third. That proved to be a big play as the first pitch to 2B Jack “Junkyard” Nichols bounced away from Bears Catcher Bin Okorafor allowing McBride to score and give the Tropics a cushion.
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That cushion would be needed as the Bears would not roll over and score another run off of McConnell before finally finishing them off for the win.
Hawaii wins 10-9 but learn after the game that they were eliminated from the playoffs.
Game 4- In the season finale the Trops came out flat and allowed 2 bigs inning by the Bears to end the season on a low note.
3B Gary Allen hit his 24th homer of the season.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
San Fernando wins 8-3.
