The Tropics return to the island for a three game series with the Long Beach Surfers at Diamond Head.
Game 1- With the Tropics down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth against the Surfers, RF Mike Campbell drilled two run homer on the first pitch he saw to lift Hawaii to the walk off win. Campbell finished 2 for 4 on the day with 2 RBI and a run.
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LF Bastiao Fardos was also 2 for 4 with a two run homer and a double. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2.
SP Zak Johnson pitched 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, issued a walk and struck out 3.
RP Norm McConnell pitched a perfect top of the ninth and earned the win.
Hawaii wins 5-4.
Game 2- Long Beach RF Lionnel Crepin proved too much for Hawaii Tropics pitching. Crepin blasted 4 homers off Tropic pitching, including his 300th of his career. The Surfers as a team hit 8 homers on the day to crush the Tropics.
GM Jim Walker said, “Finley should be embarrassed with his game management. That’s all I gotta say.”
DH Ernest McBride was 3 for 5 with a homer, a run and 5 RBI.
Campbell was 2 for 4 again with another homer, a run and 2 RBI.
Long Beach wins 17-9.
Game 3- Long Beach scores 2 runs in the seventh and 1 in the eighth to come from behind and nip the Tropics.
SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani was good, pitching 5 1/3 innings giving up just 1 unearned run, allowed 7 hits, walked no one and struck out 5 in a no decision.
C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 5 with an RBI.
Long Beach wins 4-3 and wins the series 4-3.
After the game the Hawaii Tropics announced the firing of Manager Kelly Finley. Finley, a lifetime Tropic, threw a tantrum in Owner John Hough’s office.
The Tropics finish the home stand with a three game series with the Twin Cities River Monsters at Diamond Head.
The Tropics announce the hiring of Ricardo Morales as the new manager. Morales has no experience as a manager at any level. GM Jim Walker said of Morales, “Ricardo aced the interview. He knows how to communicate to the young and old player alike.”
Morales said, “I know what these guys go through. I was a horrible pitcher and only made it as far as A ball. But I know the fears and anxieties they can feel in this game and can give them the guidance they need to succeed.’
Game 1- With the game tied at 5 in the bottom of the ninth, Ernest McBride hit a two out, solo homer to give Ricardo Morales his first win as a BBA Manager. McBride was 4 for 5 on the day with the homer and 3 singles. He scored 3 times and had the 1 RBI.
1B Manuel Aguilar, Jr. was 3 for 4 with a grand slam and 2 doubles. He drove in 5 runs and scored 1.
SP Alaric Wullenweber pitched 5 2/3 innings, surrendered 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, issued 2 walks and struck out 10 batters.
Norm McConnell again pitched a clean top of the ninth and earned the win.
Hawaii wins 6-5.
Game 2- Zak Johnson pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs and LF Jose Camacho was 2 for 4 with a homer to give the Tropics a series win. Camacho scored 2 runs and drove in 1. Johnson gave up just 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2. He improves to 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA.
Norm McConnell pitched a clean ninth for his 7th save.
McBride was 3 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI.
Shiplack was 1 for 2 with a run, an RBI and 2 walks.
Hawaii wins 5-2.
Game 3- Trailing 5-3 in the top of the eighth, the River Monsters score 3 then tack on 1 run in the ninth to avoid the series sweep.
SP Jesus Gonzalez threw well doing 7 innings, surrendered 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 8.
RP Felipe Lopez gave up the lead getting only 1 out and giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits.
Aguilar, Jr was 2 for 3 with a homer, a walk, 3 RBI and a run.
Fardos was 2 for 4 with a homer, a run and 2 RBI.
SS Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a homer, 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. But he had a key error in the eighth.
Twin Cities wins 7-6.
