UPDATE: Stars & Pacifics Announce Probables for Upcoming Series

***Updated at 1:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 11 to add San Rafael’s projected starting pitchers.***

The Hawai`i Stars return home from a 12-game road trip to begin a key series against the San Rafael Pacifics, the current leader of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs.

The Pacifics enter Thursday’s series opener with a 25-8 record, including eight wins in their last 10 games. San Rafael holds a three and a half game lead on Na Koa Ikaika Maui, the sister squad of the Stars.

Hawai`i is trending downward again after recovering from a dismal start to the season. The Stars have lost seven of their last 10 matchups and hold a 15-21 overall record, putting them 11 and a half games back of their upcoming opponents.

Dallas Mahan, who doubles as the Stars’ pitching coach, will get the ball for Thursday’s season opener. He holds a 2-1 record with a 2.63 earned run average.

Opposing Mahan will be Logan Odom. The Pacifics’ right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA in six appearances. Odom blanked the Stars in a 4-0 win on June 27, giving up six hits and four walks while striking out nine in seven and two-thirds innings. He has won his last two starts.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Onan Masaoka will pitch Friday night’s game. In his last start, the Waiakea High school graduate allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits over six innings in a losing effort on July 4. After starting the season 0-3, Masaoka is now 2-4 with an ERA of 5.10.

Pacifics manager Ryan Priddy will counter with right-hander Christian Scholl, who was rocked in his last start by Na Koa Ikaika Maui on July 4. He allowed six runs, five of them earned, on six hits in just two innings as his squad lost 11-3.

Scholl holds a 3-1 record with a 5.29 earned run average.

Former University of Hawai`i at Hilo standout Ronnie Loeffler will pitch the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Waiakea graduate is making his first appearace since being placed on the inactive list on June 25. He is 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts this season.

Devon Ramirez will pitch the seven-inning game to close Saturday’s doubleheader. In his last start on July 5, Ramirez pitch six and a third innings, allowing four runs on seven hits as the Stars beat Vallejo 8-4. He picked up the win, improving his record to 3-2. His ERA stands at 5.27.

Transaction wire

The Stars announced Tuesday night that they have signed right-handed pitcher Roberto Feliciano to the squad.

According to Baseball Reference, a site that keeps track of baseball statistics throughout professional baseball, the 22-year-old spent three years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization after being drafted by the organization in 2008. He was selected in the 24th round.

Feliciano never made it past the Single-A minor league level with the Great Lakes Loons, where he made six appearances in 2009. He last pitched in the organization at the age of 19 for the Dodgers’ rookie-league squad in Arizona. He went 1-0 with a 6.28 ERA for the AZL Dodgers in 2010. Also that year, he pitched in independent baseball as a member of the Lake County Fielders.

Feliciano was born in Puerto Rico. He will likely wear number 27 for the Stars, according to a team e-mail.

Bar night slated for Friday

The Stars announced earlier this week that Friday’s game against San Rafael will be designated as a special corporate night for the Hawai`i County Bar Association.

An hour before the 5:35 p.m. first pitch, members and family of the HCBA will get to take part in an autograph session with Stars players. At 5:00 p.m., a charity pitching contest will be held.

Series outlook (probable starters)

Thursday, July 11: San Rafael (Logan Odom, 4-0) vs. Hawai`i (Dallas Mahan, 2-1) – 5:35 p.m.

Friday, July 12: San Rafael (Christian Scholl, 3-1) vs. Hawai`i (Onan Masaoka, 2-4) – 5:35 p.m.

Saturday, July 13: San Rafael (TBA) vs. Hawai`i (Ronnie Loeffler, 0-2) – 1:35 p.m.

Saturday, July 13: San Rafael (TBA) vs. Hawai`i (Devon Ramirez, 3-2) – 5:35 p.m.

Sunday, July 14: San Rafael (TBA) vs. Hawai`i (TBA) – 1:35 p.m.

Monday, July 15: San Rafael (TBA) vs. Hawai`i (TBA) – 5:35 p.m.