The Hawaii Tropics host the defending Frick League Champs in a four game series at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Tropics draw their nemesis in the series opener, Satan’s Whelp Danya Tchekanov. Hawaii and Long Beach battled to a 1-1 tie going into the ninth inning. Tchekanov and Hawaii starter Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani were both out of the game. Cornelio Lozano was in for the Surfers and Norm McConnell for the Trops. McConnell walked two batters and gave up a hit that scored the go ahead run for Long Beach. Lozano remained in the game to lock down the win for the Surfers. He retired Mike Campbell on a swinging bunt 1-3 for the first out of the inning. He then walked Ron Shiplack on four straight pitches. Jack “Junkyard” Nichols stepped to the plate and worked the count to 2-2 before striking out on a Lozano fastball up and in.
Surfers Manager Gabriel Rodriguez made the slow roll out to the mound to take Lozano out. Lozano was not happy and had some choice words for his manager. Lozano signaled for the righty, Alberto ‘Ripper’ Ramirez to come on to face
Fernando Rodriguez. Tropics Manager Ricardo Morales called Rodriguez back and sent up lefty pinch hitter Bronx ‘Little Bron’ Cortez. Cortez ambushed Rodriguez, crushing his first pitch fastball over the right field wall for a walk off two run homer.
Destefani matched Tchekanov for 6 2/3 innings giving up a run on seven hits , walked three and struck out four.
CF Manny Garcia was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and was caught stealing.
Cortez is hitting .375 with a homer and two RBI this season.
Hawaii wins 3-2.
Game 2- Hawaii SP Zak Johnson is having another good start to a season. He started well last season but when May came around the slump started. He pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk against the Surfers in Game 2. He struck out one batter and relied on his defense to make the plays to get him out of any jams.
RP Stephen Taub pitched the final 1 1/3 innings giving up two hits, a walk and struck out two for his third save.
1B Gary Allen was 2 for 3 with a triple, double, a walk, run scored and two RBI.
Hawaii wins 6-2.
Game 3- With SP Jesus Gonzalez down for six weeks with an injury, the Tropics use a bullpen day against the Surfers. Hawaii falls behind quickly 6-0 but worked their way back to tie the game. The Trops then score two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the win late.
RP Norm McConnell pitched the final two innings for the Tropics walking one, striking out one and getting the win.
Gary Allen continues to wing the hot bat going 3 for 4 with a two run homer, a walk, three runs scored and two RBI.
3B Fernando Rodriguez was 4 for 4 with a double, a run and an RBI.
Bronx Cortez was 1 for 3 with a homer.
DH Ernest McBride was 1 for 5 with a two run homer.
Hawaii wins 8-6.
Game 4- The Long Beach Surfers score a run in the seventh, two in the eighth and two in the ninth to pull away from the Tropics and avoid the sweep.
SP Bob McConnell was ahead when he left the game. He pitched five innings giving up three runs on six hits and walked one. He struck out six batters in the no decision.
McBride was 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored.
Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI.
3B Fernando Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
Long Beach wins 8-4.
Hawaii wins the series 3-1.
The Tropics welcome the Seattle Storm for a quick two game series at Diamond Head.
Game 1- The Tropics and Storm play In an epic 19 inning affair that saw 14 total runs scored with 6 runs scored in the last inning. It lasted 6 hours and 35 minutes ending in the early morning hours. The Storm scored two runs in the top of the nineteenth to take a 6-4 lead. Hawaii then scored a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 6-5 when Gary Allen stepped up to get plate. Allen then blasted a 2-2 fastball 435 feet to deep left center for a three run walk off homer.
SP Alaric Wullenweber started the game hours earlier and pitched seven innings allowing four runs on five hits and struck out eight batters.
Mike Campbell was 4 for 7 with a double, two walks and two runs scored.
Allen was 3 for 9 with a walk and a three run homer.
Ernest McBride was 3 for 6 with a double, two walks and two RBI.
Hawaii wins 8-6.
Game 2- The Tropics bullpen runs out of steam after the previous 19 inning game and fall to the Storm.
Nick Destefani couldn’t give the ‘pen a break as he only made it 4 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on seven hits and walked three. He struck out one and falls to 1-1 with a 3.99 ERA.
CF Michel Noel was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and a walk.
SS Ben Vaive was 2 for 4 with a two run homer.
Seattle wins 9-5 and split the series 1-1.
