The Hawaii Tropics begin the 2049 Brewster Baseball Association campaign with a two game series at home against the Portland Lumberjacks.
Game 1- The Hawaii Tropics utilize good pitching and defense to shutout the Portland Lumberjacks on two hits to take the series opener. It began with Hawaii Starter Maup Manshert allowing just one of those hits in six innings of work. He walked three batters and fanned five before exiting the game for Rich Martinez. Martinez pitched 2 1/3 innings giving up nothing and striking out two batters. Denny Hamilton came on to finish the game and he was a bit wild at first but recorded the final two outs to earn the save. He gave up a hit, walked two and struck out two.
On offense, sophomore 2B Adhyapayana Mehta was 1 for 4 with an RBI while 3B Lorenzo Gonzales was 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI. Stephen Cox was the DH for the game and was 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
Maup Manshert said after the game, “This was a team effort all round. This is what our games will look like this season. We want low scoring games and give ourselves a chance. We can’t bash teams anymore so we have to play some defense and the guys in the staff with me have to be competitive.”
GM Jim Walker said, “This is how I pictured it for this season. I won’t be easy. We have some guys down in the minors that we will be bringing up soon.”
When pressed Walker said, “Time. Time is money.”
He was then asked, “Everyone notices the new paint and amenities in the park. Whose idea was it to paint?”
Walker smiled and said, “A friend.”
Hawaii wins 2-0.
Game 2- The Portland Lumberjacks pour it on late to earn a series split with the Tropics. Hawaii SP Ernie Poole looked good going 5 1/3 innings surrendering two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out three batters but takes the loss. The bullpen was roughed up giving up five runs in 3 2/3 innings to put the game out of reach.
C Ron Shiplack was 2 for 3. Stephen Cox, Thomas Kramer and Lorenzo Gonzales all had 1 for 3 days at the plate.
Portland wins 7-0.
