Online Extra: Stars-Maui series nixed ahead of playoffs

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Tribune-Herald

Tribune-Herald

The Pacific Association cancelled the season-ending series between the Hawaii Stars and Na Koa Ikaika Maui to accommodate the league playoffs, which were set to start as early as this week, according to Facebook postings on both teams’ websites.

The four-game baseball series between the Stars (25-36-1) and Na Koa Ikaika (40-25) was to begin Wednesday at Maui’s Iron Maehara Stadium.

According to a Monday post from Bob Young, owner of both teams, on the Facebook page of Na Koa Ikaika Maui, the cancellation was necessary to “cut right to the playoff chase in San Rafael at the end of the week.”

The Stars announced the cancellation Wednesday on their Facebook page: “The league head office has requested that the Stars and Maui cancel their final series in Maui, to prepare for the extended and revamped playoffs in California. More details as we get them.”

Stars manager Gary Templeton earlier had told the Tribune-Herald that the original playoff schedule involved all five of the league’s teams and would have matched No. 4 seed Hawaii against the No. 5 East Bay Lumberjacks, while No. 1 San Rafael would play No. 2 Maui, with No. 3 Vallejo getting a bye.

The games were to be played at Vallejo and San Rafael.