Related Links: Box Score | Bellingham Bells Playoff Roster

Last night the Bellingham Bells beat the Edmonton Riverhawks 5-1 to win the opening Divisional Series of the 2024 West Coast League Playoffs. The Bells now play the Wenatchee AppleSox on Wednesday to determine who will represent the North in the WCL Championship Game come Friday night. Corvallis and Portland are battling for the South Division title on Wednesday as well.

Josh Flaugher made a five inning start and was granted an early lead. The Bells scored first for the third straight game against Edmonton in these playoffs when Anthony Kodama led off the bottom of the second inning with a ground rule double. After Gabe Henderson was walked, Conner Smith hit a ball into center field that got away from Rex Watson and both Kodama and Henderson scored. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning Kodama led off another frame with a double. After Conner Smith’s sacrifice bunt Kodama was in scoring position. Colton Bower was walked so runners were on the corners when Bryce Johnson laid down the suicide squeeze bunt attempt. Johnson hustled down the line and beat the throw to first to score a run on a bunt single.

Up 3-1, the Bells did surrender one run in Flaugher’s final inning of work. In the fifth inning the Riverhawks had two base runners reach via walks. Watson then hit one of his three hits in this game to drive in a run as the Riverhawks narrowed the score to 3-1. Flaugher would finish five innings with one run allowed on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters.

Jack Svinth was out to pitch the sixth inning for Bellingham and did so with a scoreless frame. Svinth also started the seventh inning but after recording one out and walking a batter Nick Lewis entered out of the bullpen. Lewis finished the seventh with two outs to strand the lone runner. In the eighth inning the Riverhawks had their biggest chance of the night to close the gap down 3-1. 

The eighth inning began with back-to-back singles for Edmonton and the tying run was at first base. Lewis struck out Trey Dunn for the first out in the inning. Bryce McFeely produced a productive out by grounding out on a weak chopper to second. McFeely’s out moved both runners into scoring position for the WCL All-Star Jacob Poturnak at the plate. With two outs and runners at second and third, Lewis struck out Poturnak and stranded the tying runs on base.

The Bells added to their lead in the next half inning. In the bottom of the eighth they scored two runs against Edmonton’s best reliever, Tylor Jans. Smith led off the inning with a double and Bower laid down a bunt that led to an error to advance Logan Degroot who pinch ran for Smith at second base. Bryce Johnson attempted a squeeze bunt with runners on the corners but Degroot was thrown out advancing home. There were runners at first and second base when Trent Mallonee sprayed a double down the right field line that scored a run. Jason Shedlock hit a ground ball to the second baseman who threw home and could not get Johsnon out at the plate, it was now 5-1.

In the ninth inning Ryan Heppner entered with a four run lead to hunt the final three outs and extend the Bells season. Back-to-back singles to start the ninth gave Edmonton a chance at a comeback. Heppner struck out a batter for the first out but then gave up a walk and the bases were loaded. With one out in the ninth and the bases loaded it was Edmonton’s hottest hitter, Rex Watson, at the plate. Watson chopped a ball back to Heppner who threw home for the force out. The catcher Bower then threw to first base and completed a 1-2-3 double play that ended the game. The Bells won 5-1 and advanced to the North Division Championship Game.

The Bells now play Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Field in Wenatchee, Wash. The winner of Wednesday’s single game matchup will advance to the West Coast League Championship game that will be played on Friday. The Bells lone WCL championship came in 2014 where they beat the Corvallis Knights in a three-game series.

Follow the Bells remaining postseason here as they look to chase their second WCL Title in team history.

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