Box Score

BELLINGHAM — In a rematch of the 2025 West Coast League Championship game, the score may have differed, but the result was the same. Bellingham topped Portland 5-2 on Friday, June 12 at Joe Martin Field. The Bells staved off a late comeback attempt by the Pickles as Thrasher Steed struck out the final Portland batter to strand the bases loaded. 

Portland tagged Bellingham’s starter Charlie Decker for the game’s first run in the first inning. The Pickles played small ball with a single, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to get on the scoreboard first. Decker didn’t allow another run in his five innings and collected the win on the mound while striking out five Pickles.

Bellingham got their first two runs of the game on a two-RBI single by Noah Cassie in the fifth. He plated Jake Lyall and Jorge Olivera-Gutierrez, who both had singles to lead off the fifth inning. David Wiser made his debut in the top of the sixth inning and had a scoreless frame despite allowing the first two Portland batters to reach base.

Jake Lyall added to Bellingham’s run with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. The Bells led 3-1 after Tristan Schaefer scored on Lyall’s knock. Wiser allowed two hits in the seventh, but once again stranded the runners and finished his debut with two scoreless frames while striking out three batters.

The Bells stretched their lead to 4-1 after the seventh-inning stretch after Olivera-Gutierrez was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Matt Churchill singled and Olivera-Gutierrez scored on the same play with the help of a Portland error.

Zach Elsos took the mound in the eighth inning and stranded two Pickles, who reached on a hit and an error. Bellingham added another insurance run on another RBI knock from Lyall in the bottom of the eighth.

Elsos walked the leadoff batter in the ninth before forcing a groundout. After a second walk and a strikeout, he issued his third free pass of the inning to load the bases with two outs. Thrasher Steed relieved him and allowed one run to score after hitting a Portland batter.

With the Bells up 5-2, the Pickles had the go-ahead run at the plate. Steed struck out the batter to pick up his first save with Bellingham and claim a win in the first of three games against Portland. Bellingham improved to 8-5 and Portland fell to 5-5.

Lyall led the Bells with three hits, two RBI and one run scored. Cassie was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Churchill also collected a pair of hits in the win. Olivera-Gutierrez scored twice after reaching base on a hit and a walk.

The Bells look for a series win tomorrow over the Pickles with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Kids wearing a soccer jersey get free admittance to the game and there’ll be free scarves at the front gate for early fans. Get your tickets at bellstickets.com.