Related Links: Box Score | Bellingham Bells Playoff Roster

The Bellingham Bells kept their 2024 season alive with a 2-0 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks at Joe Martin Field on Sunday, Aug 10. Tomorrow is a winner-take-all for the opening series of the 2024 West Coast League Playoffs. Get tickets to tomorrow night’s 6:35 p.m. playoff game at bellstickets.com.

Tonight was dominated by pitching from both teams. The game began with Nic Peterson starting his first game as a Bellingham Bell. Peterson in the regular season was an All-Star as a long relief pitcher. Peterson went six shutout innings, a career high, and tied his career high strikeout total with seven punch outs. Lathan Haywood finished the shutout with three innings pitched of relief where he gave up one hit and struck out two. Neither Bells pitcher allowed a walk tonight.

On the other side of the hill was Riley Barett who went five shutout innings for the Riverhawks. Barrett allowed three hits, one walk and had three strikeouts. Kai Fyke pitched the sixth and part of the seventh in his second bullpen appearance over the last two playoff games against the Bells. Austin Egan finished the seventh inning clean for Edmonton but that would not be the case in the eighth.

In the eighth inning, Jacob Mejia led off with a four pitch walk. Gabe Henderson then laid down a bunt that spun away from Egan and resulted in Henderson reaching safely. Anthony Kodama laid down a sacrifice bunt that forced Trent Lenihan into an error on his throw back to first base. Thanks to the error, Mejia scored for the first run by either team in the game. There were runners on the corners for Conner Smith who laid down the suicide squeeze which scored Henderson. The Bells took their 2-0 lead into the ninth inning in search of the final three outs to extend their 2024 season.

Haywood would finish the 2-0 win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning and earn his second win of the season. The Bells were led on offense by Jason Shedlock’s 2 for 4 night. Gabe Henderson went 1 for 3 and scored a run while playing good defense at shortstop. Conner Smith went 1 for 3 and brought home a run on his sacrifice bunt. Colton Bower reached successfully all four times to the plate by getting one hit, two walks and being hit by a pitch. Bryce Johnson was the only other Bellingham Bell with a base hit and Jacob Mejia scored a run after being walked.

The Bellingham Bells and Edmonton Riverhawks will play tomorrow, Monday Aug 11., to determine who will advance to the North Divisional Championship game that is set to take place on Wednesday. The Bells can hypothetically host the Divisional Championship if they win tomorrow and if Victoria beats Wenatchee tomorrow night. Follow along with your Bellingham Bells playoff run online here or get your tickets here.

Tonight the Portland Pickles beat the Bend Elks 16-6 and advanced to the South’s Divisional Championship game. The Pickles will face the Corvallis Knights who eliminated the Ridgefield Raptors by winning 12-5 tonight. In the North, the Wenatchee AppleSox evened their series against the Victoria HarbourCats by winning 9-1.

Tonight’s game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.