The Bellingham Bells are the West Coast League North Division first-half champions for the second-straight season after sweeping the Kamloops NorthPaws July 4–6 at Joe Martin Stadium.
Bellingham (20-7) closed out its series against Kamloops (7-23) by clinching a spot in the WCL postseason in August alongside the South Division’s Ridgefield Raptors (19-10). The Bells edged the Wenatchee AppleSox (19-8) and Victoria HarbourCats (20-10) for the North Division’s best record at the midway point of the season.
After being swept by Victoria in its previous series, Bellingham bounced back from the season-worst performance in championship fashion.
Next up for the Bells is a road series at the WCL’s other first-half champion, traveling to the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex for a three-game slate against the Raptors July 7–9. Game times are available via the Bellingham Bells’ website.
Here’s what happened in the Bells’ series with Kamloops.
Bells hold NorthPaws scoreless for 5 innings in game 1 win
The Bells got off to a strong start in the series opener, defeating Kamloops 5-1 on Tuesday, July 4.
Bellingham’s left-handed pitcher Daniel Paret held the NorthPaws’ offense in check, earning the start and not allowing a single run in four innings pitched. Paret struck out nine batters while allowing just two hits.
Offensively, the bulk of Bellingham’s runs came in the bottom of the third inning — already leading 1-0 — with a three-run stretch that was powered by hits from second baseman Anthony Kodama, first baseman Yohann Dessureault and designated hitter Daryl Ruiz.
Kamloops scored its only run in the top of the sixth, and shortstop Ty Saunders singled in the bottom of the inning for Bellingham to drive in the Bells’ final run of the game.
NorthPaws right-hander Tyrelle Chadwick took the loss after allowing six hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out three.
Dessureault finished the game 2-for-4 batting with two runs scored, and an RBI. Saunders went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
4 Bells pitchers contribute to shutout in game 2
Led by its pitchers, Bellingham posted its third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the NorthPaws on Wednesday, July 5.
Right-handers Trevor Moore, Isaac Yeager and Jack Erdman combined to pitch eight innings for the Bells, allowing six hits, no runs and six walks while striking out six. Left-hander Sheldon Egger threw one inning and allowed no hits, runs or walks and struck out one.
Bellingham’s sound defense forced Kamloops to leave 10 runners stranded.
Both of the Bells’ runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning, first on a single by Kodama that scored third baseman Nate Kirkpatrick and then on a triple by Dessureault — his second of the season — that drove in Kodama.
Left-hander Liam Reynolds took the loss for the NorthPaws after pitching three innings and allowing three hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out two.
Kodama finished the game 1-for-2 batting with a run scored and an RBI.
Bells score 7 unanswered, beat NorthPaws for series sweep
Bellingham erased a 5-0 third-inning deficit, beating Kamloops 7-5 in the final game of the series and clinching the first-half North Division championship.
Kamloops rattled off five rapid runs in the top of the third inning to begin the game’s scoring — an offensive eruption that, until then, had been absent from the NorthPaws’ entire series.
Right-hander Trevin Hope, the 2022 WCL Pitcher of the Year, relieved Will Armbruester in the top of the fourth inning and helped shut out Kamloops for the remainder of the game.
Bellingham center fielder Max Hartman and left fielder Andrew Valdez brought the Bells’ offense to life in the bottom of the fourth, each hitting triples to right field and cutting the NorthPaws’ lead to 5-2.
Right fielder Coleman Schmidt, shortstop Riley Parker and Dessureault drove in runs for the Bells in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game at 5-5. Hartman hit a solo home run the next inning, giving Bellingham the lead for good.
Hope earned the win on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing one hit, no runs and two walks with no strikeouts. Hartman and Schmidt each finished 2-for-4 batting with two runs scored, and the former added two RBIs.
