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The Bellingham Bells beat the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase Team 7-4 in a comeback victory at Joe Martin Field, July 18, in Bellingham, Wash. The comeback was completed in the eighth inning with a go-ahead hit-by-pitch to Bryce Johnson and a two RBI single from Roman Martin.
Everett Swaim made the start and would pitch a perfect 1st inning. His second inning saw the leadoff batter single followed by four walks, scoring two runs. Another run scored when Caden Davis hit into a double play. Swaim would exit his start after two innings, trailing 3-0. Sax Matson took over for the 3rd inning and struck out the side.
The Bells started to chip away with a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning after Anthony Kodama led off with a double and was sent home on a Danny Witters single. Matt Molina pitched one scoreless inning when he took the ball for the top of the 4th. Trailing 3-1, the Bells closed the gap by one more run in the 4th inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Gabe Henderson.
Cascade would put up their own run in the top of the 5th against Bells right-handed pitcher CJ Bott. The Bellingham Bells tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the 5th when Roman Martin hit a sacrifice fly followed by a game-tying infield single by Henderson. On that Henderson hit, Mejia was waved home as the go-ahead run but was thrown out at the plate.
CJ Bott trotted back out for the 6th inning where he would put up a scoreless frame by throwing only five total pitches. In the 7th it was Jack Svinth who kept the game tied for the Bells. Marques Brown entered the 8th inning and would have had a 1-2-3 if not for Henderson’s second error of the night at shortstop. Despite the error, Brown still exited the 8th with a scoreless outing and eventually would earn the win.
The three runs by the Bells in the bottom of the 8th were off of two walks, two hit by pitches and a single. In the 9th inning, Will Goldberg got the ball for a save opportunity. The left-handed pitcher earned his first save of the season and closed a 7-4 win for the Bells.
The Bells were led by a 2 for 4 night from Henderson who drove in two RBIs. Martin had his three RBIs on one hit and a sacrifice fly. Witters went 1 for 2 with an RBI as the starting catcher tonight. Gavin Long had a base hit and a run scored as well as Jacob Mejia who went 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored and two walks. Kodama finished the night 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk.
The Bellingham Bells are back to league play tomorrow night against the Port Angeles Lefties at 6:35 p.m. That game begins a three-game weekend series at Joe Martin Field. Friday night is Taylor Swift Night at the ballpark featuring a bell giveaway and a sing-a-long light up wand. Saturday night is the 25th Anniversary Jersey Giveaway. Get your tickets at bellstickets.com.
Tonight’s game recap is sponsored by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.