Behind home plate at Joe Martin Field. Photo: Doug Lange
Play Ball: Bellingham Bells Open Season at Home Tonight
June 4, 2019
Posted by Doug Lange Bellingham
The Bellingham opens up the West Coast League season tonight. The Bells begin the 2019 campaign with a three game homestand, playing host to the Kelowna Falcons at Joe Martin Field with a 6:35pm scheduled first pitch.
The Bells will look to build on a very successful season in 2018. Skipper Bob Miller returns for the 2019 summer campaign. Bellingham went 35-and-19 last season winning the North Division in both the first and second half of the season. They fell two games to one to Kelowna in the divisional round of the WCL playoffs.
Bellingham pitched their way to success in 2018 with a league leading 2.48 ERA. They also finished second in the WCL in strikeouts with a total of 506. The Bells return some strong arms. Pacific Lutheran University right-hander Justin Armbruester (2-1 with a 1.37 ERA in 2018), Seattle University righty Will Smith (2-0 2.16 ERA) and Western Oklahoma State right-hander Marcos Cuenca (3-1, 1.20 ERA) are all on the 2019 roster.
Infielder Dusty Stroup (.253/1HR/22 RBI) out of Missouri Western and Gonzaga outfielder Guthrie Morrison (.237/1HR/9RBI/9SB) are also back on the 2019 roster.
Bellingham has signed approximately a dozen players to 10-day contracts as they await their full contingent of players to arrive in Bellingham. Many of their expected players are still competing in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bells will play 29 of their 56 games at home this summer. The regular season ends August 11th with the WCL playoffs beginning August 13th.
The West Coast League has added a new franchise to the South Division using the total teams in the league to 12. The Ridgefield Raptors will play their first game tonight at home versus the Yakima Valley Pippins. This summer’s WCL All-Star Game will be hosted by the Bend Elks on July 23rd at Vince Genna Stadium.
- Doug Lange
