The Hawaii Tropics host the Valencia Stars in a three game series. The Tropics are on a five game winning streak and finally making a late season move in the Pacific Division.
Game 1- Mike Campbell homers and triples while Alaric Wullenweber goes eight innings and fans eleven batters as the Tropics extend their winning streak to six games.
Campbell was 2 for 4 on the day with two runs scored and two RBI. DH Ernest McBride was shown some respect for his power as he was 1 for 1 on the day with a solo homer and three walks.
Wullenweber gave up two runs on six hits and walk zero on his way to winning his 12th game of the season. He has a 2.95 ERA.
Hawaii wins 5-2.
Game 2- Hawaii SP Niccolo “Notorious” Destefani pitched his third complete game of the season and earns his 9th win of the season. He gave up just a run on five hits, a walk and struck out five. He lowered his ERA to 4.09.
Mike Campbell stays hot going 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI.
Hawaii wins 3-1.
Game 3- The Tropics score 10 runs on 10 hits and extend their winning streak to eight games with a sweep of the Stars. Campbell was 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. McBride was 1 for 5 with a win scored and two RBI. C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI. CF Jorge Salas was 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI.
SP Jesus Gonzalez did just enough going five innings surrendering four runs on seven hits, walked four and fanned three. He gets the win to improve to 9-10 with a 4.15 ERA. Bob McConnell came on in relief of Gonzalez and was un-hittable. He pitched three innings and struck out two batters.
Hawaii wins 10-4.
The Tropics make a trip back to the mainland for a four game series against the San Fernando Bears.
Game 1- The Bears snap the Tropics eight game winning streak with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and steal the series opener.
SP Maup Manshert had a good start wasted by his bullpen. Manshert pitched 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits, with a walk and seven Ks. RPs Denny Hamilton and Felipe Lopez let the game get away. Hamilton gave up two runs on a hit and a walk over an inning of work while Lopez allowed two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.
Back up C Norberto Salinas was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. He scored a run and drove in one run.
SS Larry DeCourteney was 1 for 3 with two RBI.
San Fernando wins 6-4.
Game 2- Hawaii DH Ernest McBride has a big day offensively and the Tropics score six runs in the seventh inning to assure the win. McBride was 2 for 4 with a double and a Grand Slam to lead the way for Hawaii. He scored three runs and drove in four.
SP Zak ‘Hitman’ Johnson’s inconsistent season continues but this time with positive results. Johnson pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up two runs on two hits, walked two and fanned six. He received the win to improve to 7-13 with a 4.13 ERA.
Hawaii wins 8-3.
Game 3- The Bears get another big inning late to beat the Tropics and take a 2-1 series lead. San Fernando scored five in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Alaric Wullenweber kept the Tropics close but the bullpen let it slip away. Wullenweber pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out nine but falls to 12-6 with a 2.94 ERA.
Wullenweber said, “ These are the games we are going to regret at the end of the season.”
Ron Shiplack was 3 for 4 with a double a run scored and an RBI.
San Fernando wins 6-4.
Game 4- The Tropics come back from five runs down to tie the Bears then get a big extra inning win to split the series. With Hawaii trailing 6-1 in the top of the eighth, the Trops score a run on a single by Mike Campbell that scored Bronx ‘Little Bron’ Cortez then get a two run jack from Tony Hernandez to make it 6-4 San Fernando. The Tropics then score two more runs in the top of the ninth to even the score at 6-6. Finally, in the top of the fourteenth inning, Norberto Salinas singled home Manny Garcia with the eventual winning run.
Nick Destefani was hammered early by the Bears as he gave up six runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out five in 4 1/3 innings of work. The bullpen took over from there allowing just four hits and walked three in 9 2/3 innings. They also struck out eleven.
Destefani said, “I really mucked that up but the boys helped me out. This is a true team win.”
Salinas was 2 for 7 with a solo homer, a run and two RBI.
Tony Hernandez was 1 for 7 with a two run homer.
Hawaii wins 7-6.
