The Bellingham Bells have won only two games since the All-Star break. The Bells lost 3-2 against the Port Angeles Lefties on Saturday, July 20, then lost 1-0 against them the next day.
The Bells bounced back against the Kelowna Falcons, winning 1-0 on Tuesday, July 23 at home. The Bells shut out Kelowna, giving up two hits and four walks in nine innings. Peter Storjohann shined with four innings pitched and six strikeouts.
Bellingham kept the momentum going Wednesday, July 24, clinching the series win over the Falcons with a 10-4 victory. Nate Kirkpatrick, Roman Martin and Gavin Long all drove in two runs each to help fuel the win.
Despite recent losses, the Bells are second in the North Division with an 8-6 record, two games behind the Wenatchee Applesox.
Offense strands runners in scoring position
In the 3-2 loss, the Bells led 2-0 through the first six innings. During that span, the Bells stranded three runners on base, including two in scoring position. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Logan DeGroot stepped up with a chance to win the game but flew out to right field, stranding all three runners.
In the 1-0 loss to the Lefties on Monday, the Bells had three runners caught stealing and another runner picked off. In addition, the Bells stranded nine runners in the game, including four in scoring position.
In the Bells 1-0 win over the Falcons on Tuesday, they stranded 12 runners, including two innings with the bases loaded. Roman Martin had the game-winning hit in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Trent Mallonee.
Defense holds strong despite losses
In the 3-2 loss on Saturday, Tyler Van Dyke pitched five innings with zero earned runs, five strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Nic Peterson followed up with four innings pitched, three earned runs and five hits. Bellingham had one error in the game.
In the 1-0 loss, Josh Flaugher pitched six innings with one run allowed from an error and three hits. Callum Young and Lane Simonsen combined for three innings and allowed zero runs or hits.
Local player to watch
Lane Simonsen, a Lynden native, is the only local to play since the All-Star break. He pitched one inning against Port Angeles July 21, giving up zero runs nor hits. His summer stats include a 2.70 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 10 walks and four hits.
What’s next
The Bells finished their three-game series with Kelowna on Thursday, July 25. Afterward, the Bells will travel to Nanaimo to face the Nightowls July 26–28.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
