By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Charlie Brown, an eternally positive fellow who can’t kick the football, would make a good grief counselor for the Hawaii Stars, who fell flat on their backs in pursuit of a sendoff home win, but managed nothing but smiles to the very end.
Despite searching under every rock for a pile of basehits, the Stars found only frustration against Na Koa Ikaika Maui ace Jesse Smith, falling 5-1 in the back end of a North American Baseball League doubleheader on Saturday night at Wong Stadium, in their last homestand.
Earlier in the day, the Stars enjoyed a spate of timely hits under sunshine to upend Na Koa 7-3. Then nightfall began and it rained lightly from the first inning on, providing the Hawaii Stars with a lasting wet memory of Hilo.
Fortunately for the Stars, the Sonoma County Grapes did them a solid, beating the San Rafael Pacifics 8-1, momentarily halting the final nail in their coffin. The Stars (23-25) and Na Koa (29-25) next play a six-game series on Maui, starting Tuesday.
If the Pacifics (31-22) win their next game and the Stars lose, Hawaii’s postseason hopes are dashed. The Stars’ debut season was the first return of professional baseball to Hilo since the Hawaii Winter League closed up shop in 1997.
Both games were scheduled for seven innings. But in Game 2, after a 30-minute rain delay, the contest was called in the top of the sixth inning due to unplayable conditions. Then despite the loss, the smiles shined brightest for all the Stars.
“At the end of the day, you come out and enjoy yourself, no matter what,” Hawaii manager Garry “G2” Templeton II said. “It’s a business and a game, but whatever happens you’ve got to have fun or you should find something else to do.
“I learned a lot about myself and managing a team. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, the good and the bad. You take the positives and move forward.”
Charlie Brown couldn’t have said it any better.
Michael Kenui, a 2009 Waiakea graduate, couldn’t agree more. The right-handed reliever picked up the win in the second game. He’s 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 26 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts.
“I really liked it. We bonded with everyone and had fun,” he said. “I had fun with everybody and playing baseball. It’s been the best baseball season of my life.”
Ronnie Loeffler, a former UH-Hilo pitcher, lost 6-1 on Monday, his only loss at home. He holds a 6-2 record with a 4.04 ERA in 64 2/3 innings. Likewise, he enjoyed himself in his first pro season.
“We played together and it was really nice to see the fan base come together in the last home series,” he said. “That pumped up the team to play better. We hope to continue to do what we did next year, and it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Outfielder Reece Alnas (.229 batting average, 17 RBIs) played at Oklahoma Baptist and reached the NAIA World Series. His team didn’t win the title, but he remembers the camaraderie that carried his team, the same feeling duplicated with the Stars. And first baseman Anthony Lopez was a teammate.
“We definitely formed a brotherhood,” Alnas said. “That’s how we were able to be so positive. It’s definitely been a fun ride. We shared a lot of laughs and smiles.”
Cortney Arruda (1-1, 7.00 ERA with two saves in 18 innings), the last of the four local boys, was warming up for the sixth inning when the game was called.
Smith spun a three-hitter for the win. Gered Mochizuki went 2 for 3, including a lightning bolt of a two-run homer.
Roman Martinez took the loss in two innings, and left the game after getting hit on the ankle by a comebacker. Ryan Screnar finished with three innings and allowed two runs.
Stars 7, Na Koa 3: Maui starter Mike Williams pitched on his 26th birthday and it wasn’t a particularly happy experience. The 44th round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008 went five innings and gave up five runs (three unearned) on eight hits and two walks, and struck out three.
Eri “Knuckle Princess” Yoshida made her first and only appearance of the series, relieving Williams. She allowed two runs (one unearned) on one hit and two walks, and whiffed one. That elevated her ERA to 6.03.
Hawaii did its best to help out Maui, issuing seven walks and hitting two batters. In 3 2/3 innings, Paul Jinkens walked five and yielded two runs in a no-decision. Kenui fired 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief for the win. He walked a pair of batters, but gave up only a hit and struck out three.
Arnoldo Ponce batted 2 for 2 and Adam Jacobs 1 for 1 with two RBIs to rouse the Stars. Alnas went 0 for 3 in his last home game.
Game 1
Maui 000 201 0 — 3 2 2
Hawaii 032 002 x — 7 9 1
Game 2
Maui 032 00 — 5 4 1
Hawaii 000 10 — 1 3 1
