April 11, 2000
Valencia 1, Hawaii 2
The score shows a much closer game than it should of been. The Tropics had 10 hits to Valencia's 2, and 3 Tropic's recorded a multi-hit ballgame. C John Behnke was one of those Tropics, has he finished 2 for 5 with his 2nd Homerun of the year, Behnke also recorded 2 RBI and 2 Runs to add onto his daily stats. 1B Steven Tyus proved his move to firstbase a worthy one, as he also went 2 for 4 with 2 singles. The star of the game goes to SP Israel Martinez. Martinez pitched 9 amazing innings, giving up both hits while striking out 6. He recorded his 1st win of the season, and it came with just 102 pitches thrown.
April 12, 2000
Hawaii 4, Vancouver 3
The game saw all but 1 Tropic's starter record a hit, but the bulk of the offense rested upon 3B Robb Wells. Wells went 3 for 4, with an RBI double in the 5th. RF Jose Aguirre hit his 2nd homerun of the season, a 450 foot blast in the 4th. SP Remington Little finally pitched like the contract he just received. Remington threw 8 innings, gave up just 5 hits, and 1 earned run for his 1st win of the season. CP Brian Fisher came into the 9th and got into a little hot water before saving the game and earning his 2nd recorded save of the season.
April 13, 2000
Hawaii 5, Vancouver 12
The Mounties must've been upset at the loss the day prior, because they came out swinging big sticks in this evening game with a huge crowd. Despite both teams posting 13 hits, the Mounties were able to make the most of their hits. The Tropics CF Mark Gosselaar went 3 for 5, 3B Robb Wells continued bashing the ball, going 2 for 5 with a run scored. SS Robert Cullison started in place of Jim Oneill and showed he wanted a starting spot, managing 2 doubles in 5 at-bats with 2 RBI. RF Jose Aguirre homered again in his 2 for 3 day. C John Behnke unfortunately ended up sitting by himself at the far-end of the dugout as he struck out all 5 times when he was at the plate. SP Michael Shellenbarger went 6.2 innings, and was unstoppable in his first 6 innings, before giving up a string of hits in the bottom of the 6th with 2 outs that later ousted the starter. SP Robert Walton came in and tried to save the day, but was immediately handed a homerun with 2 runners on-base.
April 14, 2000
Hawaii 10, Vancouver 9
All 3 of the Vancouver/Hawaii games were offensive masterpieces, and the Tropics got the better end of the stick in this game. While the Mounties registered 15 hits to the Tropics 10 (And a valiant effort in the bottom of the 9th), the Tropics pulled this one off. The Tropics had a host of pitchers used, SP Dow Jones took the brunt of the damage as hit 5 innings pitched were very poor -- as in 10 hits and 7 earned runs. It took 4 pitches for the next 3 innings as Manager Juan Rubio played the left/lefty game, before summoning CP Brian Wilson to close the game for his 3rd save. 1B Steven Tyus went a magnificent 3 for 4 with a solo shot, and scored 3 times. 2B Robert Cullison again showed he was ready for a starting spot, going 2 for 3, tacking on 2 more doubles and 3 RBI. CF Clark Devereaux was also fantastic filling in for a tired Jose Aguirre. Devereaux went 3 for 4, hit his first homerun. Included in his 3 hits were 3 RBI and 2 Runs.
April 15, 2000
Hawaii 1, Louisville 8
The Tropics were visibly tired in this game after fighting it out in Vancouver and flying across country to Kentucky. SP Israel Martinez couldn't keep up with the Slugger's bats, finishing 6 innings, yet giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. 2B Tim McGraw went 2 for 3 after having the previous day off. This was the first game in which Hawaii didn't manage an extra-base hit in all 9 innings.
April 16, 2000
Hawaii 12, Louisville 5
After a roughing up on the 15th, the Tropics came out swinging. Every starter had at least 1 hit. C John Behnke (3), RF Jose Aguirre (5), and LF Silas Camarena (3) all homered in the ball game. Camarena ended up 2 for 5, Behnke finished 3 for 5, and Aguirre made his single hit count. 1B Steven Tyus broke the game open in the 3rd inning with a 3-run double into the right field gap. P Robert Walton filled in at the last moment as the starting pitcher as SP Remington Little cut his thumb on a grapefruit before the game and lacked any grip on the ball. Walton gave up 4 ER on 5 hits in 6 IP and earned his 1st win of the season.
April 17, 2000
Hawaii 4, Louisville 3
In a game that saw Louisville winning 3-1 for the entire game, the Tropics rallied in the 8th inning to take a 4-3 lead. CF Mark Gosselaar, 2B Tim McGraw, and LF Jose Aguirre all went 2 for 4. McGraw with a triple in the 6th. SP Michael Shellenbarger pitched 6 full frames, but ended up with the no-decision in the end. RP Ralph Desjardins finished with the Win after only pitching an inning, and CP Brian Fisher closed the game out for Save #4.
April 18, 2000
Much needed day off enroute to Greenville
April 19, 2000
Hawaii 5, Greenville 4
The next game in a string of 1-run games wasn't the best, but could've gone much worse. 3B Robb Wells again stole the ball game straight from the Moonshiners with a 3 for 4 outing. Wells ended with a solo homerun, and a 1-run double. RF Jose Aguirre hit his 6th homerun of the year, driving in 2 RBI. SP Dow Jones gave up a scary 11 hits, but only 4 of those turned into runs. CP Brian Fisher came out in the 9th to save his 5th ballgame.
April 20, 2000
Hawaii 6, Greenville 8
The Tropics couldn't keep the rally going, giving up 12 hits to the Moonshiners. LF Jose Aguirre was an RBI machine, with a double in the 2nd inning and a grand slam in the 6th inning that brought the Tropics a resounding 6-2 lead. 3B Robb Wells continued his offensive masterpiece of a week, going 2 for 4 with a double and single. SP Israel Martinez couldn't put it together, earning his 3rd loss in as many starts. Martinez gave up 10 hits, 5 earned runs and walked 8 in his 6.1 innings of work.
Offensive Player
RF Jose Aguirre
After 7 Tropic Starters hit .300+, Aguirre was the best choice for this award. Aguirre hit a stunning 5 homeruns, and driving in 15 runs as he finished 9 for 25, but also walked 8 times for an OBP of .484.
Pitching Player
CP Brian Fisher
Fisher doesn't have the glaring stats that a starting pitcher or long reliever has, but his job became more important than anyone on the team. 5 of the Tropics 9 games were decided by 1-run. Fisher proved time and time again that he was up for the challenge, earning a save in all 4 games in which he was called upon.
