The Hawaii Tropics play a four-game series with the Valencia Stars at Dunn Field in Valencia, California.
Game 1- The Tropics blow a 4-0 lead as the Stars score five runs in the bottom of the seventh and hold on for the win. Hawaii starter Carlos Valle was cruising before his short stop Thomas Kramer committed an error that extended the inning. He left the game after 6 1/3 innings and four runs had scored, two unearned. He gave up six hits and walked two batters while fanning four. Angel Hernandez worked his way out of the inning but not before another unearned run had scored. Alberto Castaneda pitched an inning and walked two batters but the damage had already been done.
Katsumi Matsumoto was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Rhys Brickell was 1 for 3 with a walk, a stolen base and a solo homer in the second inning. Thomas Kramer was 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Valencia wins 5-4.
Game 2- Hawaii and Valencia pitching staffs engaged in a pitching duel with the Stars coming out on top in extras with a walk off solo homer. Troy ‘Teddy Bear’ Reynolds started the game for the Trops and was excellent through 7 2/3 innings. He gave up just six hits and struck out three batters. Angel Hernandez pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and gave up the winning homer. He falls to 0-4 with a 4.37 ERA.
Matsumoto was 1 for 4, Stewart Illingworth was 2 for 4 and Ramao ‘Massacre’ Saturnino was 1 for 3.
Valencia wins 1-0.
Game 3- Valencia crushes the Tropics with every Stars hitter getting at least one hit. Hawaii starter Terry Hansen was hammered for six runs on seven hits and a walk over just 2 2/3 innings. Sumitomo Takahashi picked up where Hansen left off and gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings of work. Wade ‘Einstein’ Williams was no better allowing a couple of runs on four hits and a walk while he did record two Ks in 1 1/3 innings.
At the plate, Ron Shiplack was 2 for 4 with a two run homer in the fourth inning. Thomas Kramer was 3 for 4 while Adhyapayana Mehta was 3 for 4 with two doubles, a couple of runs scored, an RBI and was caught stealing. Stewart Illingworth was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Valencia wins 11-5.
Game 4- The Tropics go out with a whimper in the series finale as they were thoroughly beaten in the series sweep. Adhyapayana Mehta was 2 for 4 with an RBI for the anemic Hawaii offense. Starter Semih Gurani was not bad against the Stars with six innings of work. He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. He struck out three batters and falls to 3-7 with a 4.21 ERA.
Valencia wins 6-1.
Valencia sweeps the four-game series.
