The Hawaii Tropics begin their 2045 BBA Campaign with a two game series against the Portland Lumberjacks at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics get off to the start that they wanted on the arm of their Ace Alaric Wullenweber. Wullenweber was ready to go when he toed the rubber in the top of the first. He struck out the lead off hitter, allowed a single, then struck out the next two batters. Wullenweber didn’t look back from there posting 12 Ks in 7 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on 7 hits.
Much maligned RP Felipe Lopez took the ball from Wullenweber with one out in the bottom of the eighth and retired the two batters he faced in seven pitches.
RP Raymond Ortiz pitched the ninth and struck out two batters.
On offense, the stars are showing bright too. 1B Gary Allen was 4 for 4 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. He had three singles and a double.
DH Ernest McBride homered and doubled in going 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI.
C Ron Shiplack was 3 for 4 with a couple of singles, a double, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base.
The Tropics had seven doubles and eight extra base hits as a team.
Hawaii wins 9-1.
Game 2- The Tropics struggled early in the game as the Lumberjacks figured out Hawaii Starter
Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani. Destefani gave up five runs on six hits and a couple of walks in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out five but received the no decision. He was bailed out by his bullpen as they allowed just four hits and issued 2 walks the rest of the way to give the offense a chance to get them back into the game.
The offense did get them back into the game on the bats of McBride, Allen and Manny Garcia. McBride crushed another homer, doubled and singled in four at bats. He scored two runs and drove in three. Young Manny Garcia was 2 for 3 with a homer, a walk, a run and two RBI. Gary Allen was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.
Raymond Ortiz pitched a clean sixth innings to earn the win.
RP Norm McConnell pitched an inning allowing a hit and striking out a batter for his first hold of 2045.
RP Stephen Taub picked up where he left off last season as he pitched two innings allowing a hit, issued two walks and struck out two in earning his first save of the season.
Hawaii wins 7-5 and sweeps the two game series.
