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The Bellingham Bells ended their 2024 regular season by winning 5-1 against the Springfield Drifters. The Bells avoided a sweep and are now set to host the opening round of the West Coast League Playoffs. Edmonton will host game one on Saturday, Aug. 10, with the Bells being in Joe Martin Field Sunday and Monday if needed to finish the best-of-three series.

Last night’s game began with Everett Swaim who went 4.1 innings with only four hits allowed but six walks allowed and four strikeouts. The Bells scored all of their runs in a single inning, the top of the fourth. Jacob Mejia hit a bases loaded double to score the first two runs of the game. Anthony Kodama and Colton Bower walked with the bases loaded to make the score 4-0. A groundout from Logan Degroot scored the fifth run for the Bells.

Eli Knowlton was the middle reliever and he pitched 2.2 innings with one run allowed. The Drifters scored their run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Knowlton allowed five hits and one walk with one strikeout and an earned run. The final two relievers that went on to secure a 5-1 win were Jacob Gillig and Nick Lewis.

With the win, all eyes are now on the upcoming playoff series against the Edmonton Riverhawks. The best-of-three series will be played Saturday to Monday with the final two games being at Joe Martin Field. Get playoff tickets at bellstickets.com and come cheer on your Bellingham Bells who have now made the postseason for the fourth season in a row. 

Last season the Bells finished as the runners-up in the North Division after losing to the Victoria Harbourcats 6-7 in the single game North Divisional Championship. The Bells look to claim their second WCL Championship with their lone title coming in 2014. This season marks the 10th time the Bells are in the playoffs in their 19 years as a WCL team.

Overall on the season the Bells finished 32-22, their ninth 30 win season of all time. Nate Kirkpatrick finished the 2024 season with 72 hits, the second most in a single season in Bellingham Bells history. Kirkpatrick trailed only Austin Shenton of the Tampa Bay Rays who had 79 hits in 2017. 

Kirkpatrick led the Bells in average with a .332. Jacob Mejia led the team in RBI with 40 and led the team in home runs with six. Tyler Van Dyke led all Bells starting pitchers with an 0.56 ERA in 32 innings and struck out 32 batters. Nick Lewis had the lowest ERA of all relief pitchers with the second most saves. Ryan Heppner led the Bells in saves with four and had a 2.87 ERA. Devyn Hernandez tied with Van Dyke for the most wins on the mound with four.

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