After two weeks of play, the Bellingham Bells are in fourth place in the West Coast League standings.
Bellingham began play last week against the Northwest Star Nighthawks, winning the first game of the series 6–4.
The Bells got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning which was highlighted by a double from Jo Stevens that brought in two of their five runs in the opening frame.
Bellingham scored its final run in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI groundout from right fielder Teo Banks that scored second baseman Gavin Schulz. Banks and Schulz are college teammates at Tulane University in Louisiana.
Despite the offense not scoring another run in any of the remaining seven innings, the Bells hung on for the 6-4 win with the pitching staff putting together another strong outing.
Jack Erdman struck out five batters and pitched three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win on the mound. Noah Meffert earned the save.
The Bells and Nighthawks closed out their series the next night with Bellingham completing the sweep in a 4–1 win.
Starting pitcher Trevin Hope gave up a run in the top of the first inning, but it was the only run the Nighthawks would score all game.
Bellingham’s offense responded immediately, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. First baseman Jace Phelan reached on an error, allowing Elijah Hainline to score on the play and tie the game at 1–1.
The Bells took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single from second baseman JR Freethy that scored center fielder Jared Bujanda. Bellingham scored again in the bottom of the third and fifth innings.
Hope pitched four innings in the victory, Aaron Barokas earned the win on the mound and Elias Farland picked up the save.
Bellingham was scheduled to host the Redmond Dudes to close out the homestand last week, but in the absence of summer weather, the game was rained out.
The Bells left the country for a three-game series against the Kamloops NorthPaws in British Columbia over the weekend.
Bellingham dropped the first game of the series 6–3 as Kamloops’ pitchers struck out 14 Bells’ hitters and surrendered only three hits.
Four errors by the Bells’ defense plagued the team in the loss.
The Bells bounced back the next day with a big 8–1 win over the NorthPaws to even things up in the series. Bellingham was led on offense by Bujanda who racked up three hits and Hainline who had two hits, including a home run.
The win gave Bellingham sole possession of first place in the division for one night.
In the rubber match of the series, Kamloops won 4–2 to leapfrog the Bells in the standings and overtake first place.
Hainline hit his second home run of the season and Banks hit his first in the loss. Austyn Coleman took the pitching loss for the Bells.
Bellingham returned to town for a three-game homestand against the Wenatchee AppleSox June 14–16.
