Longballs Loom Large as BeachBoys Eke Out Win

News

Longballs Loom Large as BeachBoys Eke Out Win

Kyle Galdeira
11/15/07

Waikiki relied on a David Maroul solo home run to lead off the seventh frame followed three batters later by Hector Pellot’s two-run blast as the BeachBoys powered past the North Shore Honu, 5-4, tonight at Waipahu’s Hans L’Orange Park. The Waikiki win moved the club a half game ahead of the Honolulu Sharks in the race for the Hawaii Winter Baseball East Division title.

The BeachBoys (17-18-1) were trailing the HWB West Division champion Honu (23-12-1) squad, 3-2, entering the home half of the seventh until North Shore reliever Drew Naylor (0-1, 8.71 ERA) surrendered the tying and go-ahead home runs. Maroul finished the evening 2-4 with three runs scored, while Antoan Richardson added two RBIs.

North Shore did its best to regain the lead in the ninth as Mat Gamel singled in Alex Presley from third with two out to pull his team within one run of the lead. But Waikiki hurler Josh Sullivan got Brad Corley to line out sharply to left field, and earned his first save of the campaign in the process.

Waikiki reliever Nicholas Carr notched his first HWB victory after tossing three innings through which he surrendered three runs on six hits.

The BeachBoys return to Hans L’Orange Park tomorrow at noon (Hawaii time) to start a three-game series with the Honolulu Sharks in a pivotal battle for HWB East supremacy. The Honu meet the West Oahu CaneFires at 6:30 p.m., also at Hans L’Orange Park.