Falcons early offense too much for Bells

Box Score | Bellingham Bells Roster | WCL Standings

The Bellingham Bells began the second half of the season with a 6-4 loss to the Kelowna Falcons Monday, June 30 at Elks Stadium in Kelowna, British Columbia. Kelowna scored all six runs in the first four innings and Bellingham could not catch up despite the comeback effort.

Hayden George got the start for the Bells and was tagged for four runs over his three-innings of work. Bellingham got on the board with a solo home run for Noah Meffert, who has impressed in his few games with the team since joining them on the road.

In the bottom of the fourth, Miles Chandler walked two batters and Brock Sell committed an error in center field that allowed a run to score. Lathan Haywood made his debut entering in the inning and only letting a run in on an error by the shortstop Meffert.

Bellingham scored in the fifth after Bobby Pierce Jr. reached on a walk and was sent to third on a hit by Sell. Pierce Jr. scored on a wild pitch and Bellingham trailed 6-2.

Haywood was lights out for the rest of the game on the mound in his return to the Bells. He only allowed two hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

The Bells offense was able to score in the eighth on back-to-back two-out doubles by Meffert and Nate Kirkpatrick. In the ninth, the Bells comeback effort continued with a run on a couple of walks and hit-by-pitches, but they only scored one run and fell to the Falcons, 6-4.

Bellingham (18-10) lost their first game of the second half of the season, but the first half is still in play as the North Division title remains unsettled. Wenatchee lost to Kamloops today putting the AppleSox at 16-9, one game behind Bellingham in the standings. If Wenatchee loses one of their final two games, the Bells earn an early playoff berth. If Wenatchee wins the next two against the NorthPaws, they will be the first-half winners in the North.

Tomorrow, Tuesday July 1 the Bells take on the Falcons in a 6:35 p.m. rematch. The lefty Cal Young will start for Bellingham with Kelowna deploying Gio De Graauw on the mound looking to take the series.

This game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.