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The Bellingham Bells won the first game against the Kamloops Northpaws with a 14-12 victory in 11 innings Friday, July 11 at Norbrock Stadium in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Bells utilized a gutsy sacrifice bunt play to score two runners in the final inning and earn the win.

The more than four hour long game began with Trevor Moore on the mound starting. But before he even toed the slab, the Bells gave him a 3-0 lead with three bases-loaded walks.

The three-run lead was diminished when Kamloops scored three off Moore in the third. Bellingham regained the lead with one run on an RBI single from Blake Balsz.

Moore finished four innings with four hits and four walks allowed while striking out three batters and allowing three runs. The Bells scored another run in the fifth to lead 5-3 when Chase Halvorson took the mound in the bottom of the inning.

Halvorson threw just one strike in 13 pitches and was relieved by Lathan Haywood, who let two runs score — one inherited run from Halvorson and one unearned due to an error — to tie the game. Luckily, the offense was able to score in the sixth and take another lead 6-5.

After both teams cooled down for a few innings, Chihiro Sato entered for the Bells on the mound in the eighth. After loading the bases with two outs, the Northpaws tagged Sato for six runs on five hits in the inning.

Down 11-6, Bellingham made a ninth-inning rally by scoring five runs to force extra-innings. After a scoreless tenth, the Bells put two in scoring position with a walk by Balsz and a double from Kirkpatrick. Chris Clement laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Balsz with ease, but Kirkpatrick flew from second and went all the way home as the Northpaws took the out at first and failed to throw out Kirkpatrick at the plate. Aiden Aguayo knocked in another run to put the Bells up 14-11.

Caleb Cassie was tasked with the save chance and despite allowing a run was able to earn the save and close a victory out for Bellingham. The Bells (23-14) will take on the Northpaws (19-15) tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. after handing Kamloops their first loss of the second half of the season.

In tonight’s game Andrew Lamb, Rob Jacobsen, Noah Meffert, Rominic Quiban and Kirkpatrick all had two-hit outings as the Bells tallied 12 as a team. Clement led the team in RBI with three with Balsz bringing in two. Lamb scored three runs and the Bells drew a season-high 15 walks led by Balsz and Quiban who had three each.

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