After making an appearance in the championship game in 2005, the West Coast League’s inaugural season, the Bellingham Bells have failed to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.

Wednesday (Aug. 5) night the Bells fell 15-4 to the Bend Elks to officially be eliminated from the playoff race. It was Bellingham’s 13th loss in its last 15 games. Wednesday’s loss also guarantees the Bells their fifth consecutive losing season since joining the WCL.

Bellingham still has four games to finish the 2009 season. Thursday is the final game on the Bells’ home schedule before Bellingham finished its 2009 slate with three games on the road against Kitsap.

Mitch Ludtke retired all eight batters he faced Friday, July 31, including seven straight strikeouts. After getting the first batter he faced to fly out for the second out of the sixth inning, Ludtke made quick work of the next seven batters by striking them out. He fanned the ninth batter in Kitsap’s lineup to end the sixth and then struck out the side in both the seventh and eighth innings.

“Mitch was really, really good out there for us tonight,” Newell said. “We could have left him out there longer, but we decided to take him out so we only lose him for one day.

“He’s shown flashes of his great ability all season and tonight he just pulled it all together. He was able to throw all three of his pitches for strikes consistently and kept his pitch count down.”

Mark Purser pitched a perfect ninth inning as the Bells retired 11 straight batters after allowing the BlueJackets to explode for five runs in the sixth inning.

The Bells wrap up their current nine-game homestand Saturday, Aug. 1, against the Kitsap BlueJackets at Joe Martin Field. Bellingham has struggled down the stretch losing 11 of their last 12 games, including a 1-7 mark during their current homestand. But regardless of Saturday’s outcome on the field, Bells fans are sure to see a spectacular post-game show as Bellingham puts on its final fireworks display of the 2009 season.

Following Saturday’s game, the Bells head to Kitsap for one game on Sunday before an off day on Monday. Then the Bells return to Joe Martin Field to wrap up the home portion of their schedule with three games against the Bend Elks beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Bellingham is currently four games behind Bend for the final playoff spot in the West Division, and despite going 1-11 in their last 12 games, the Bells are still in position to make a run at the post-season.

Bellingham used a five-run fifth inning to overcome a three-run deficit and snap a 10-game losing streak Thursday, July 30, as the Bells took the series finale 5-4 against the visiting Corvallis Knights.

In a series and a slump in which it seemed Bellingham couldn’t buy a break, the Bells rallied with two outs in the fifth inning and capitalized on a Corvallis error, a pair of walks, and back-to-back-to-back singles by Trent Bridges, Craig Hertler, and Mark Purser, respectively, to take a 5-3 lead.

“We were able to string together some at-bats in the fifth inning and Garrett (DeRooy) was able to settle down after the home run and keep us ahead,” said Bells head coach Brandon Newell. “With nine games left in the season we’re still right there in the race to make the playoffs. Our guys need to mentally decide if that’s where they want to be because we have the opportunity to earn our spot in the playoffs out on the field during these next nine games.”

Corvallis appeared to have a series sweep in sight as Taylor Ard added to the Knights’ lead with a two-run homerun to left field in the top of the fifth. The Knights were already on top 1-0 as D.J. Gentile scored in the fourth inning following a lead-off walk.

Luke Scott started for the Bells, but was chased from the game after four-plus inning on the mound. He gave up just two of Corvallis’s early runs, but allowed five hits, walked three, had a wild pitch and walked a batter before Garrett DeRooy entered the game in relief.

DeRooy recorded one out before giving up Ard’s homerun, but was put in position to pick up the win following Bellingham’s five-run fifth.

Seth Harvey entered the game in the ninth for the Bells and earned the save after facing just four batters.

At the plate, Purser finished the night 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI. He drove in the final two runs of the fifth inning accounting for the go-ahead run and eventual game-winner.

The win was Bellingham’s first since July 18; the Bells defeated the Bend Elks 12-10 in Bend, Ore., in the second game of a six-game road trip.

“Finally getting the monkey off our backs and back in the win column will give us the boost we need down the stretch,” Newell said. “At this point we can’t wait to see what happens in the standings, we have to do our part to make something happen.”

Former Bells pitcher Marc Rzepczynski was back in Washington State on Tuesday, July 28, for a pitching appearance near his old stomping grounds–this time he just happened to be throwing on a slightly larger scale.

Rzepczynski (pronounced zep-CHIN-sky), who played for the Bells in 2004, was called up to the Majors earlier this month and made is MLB debut on July 7 at Tampa Bay. Tuesday he was in Seattle to battle the Mariners at Safeco Field. The Toronto Blue Jays southpaw struck out a career high eight batters in 5 1/3 while allowing three runs–all earned–and five hits. He did not factor into the decision.

The start was Rzepczynski’s fifth in the big leagues where he currently holds a 1-2 record with a 3.25 ERA. In 27 2/3 innings of Major League action, Rzepczynski has fanned 30 and held opposing batters to a .192 average.

CLICK HERE to read the complete game recap on MLB.com

Former Bells pitcher Stephen Fife picked up his first win since being promoted from Low-A Greenville to High-A Salem. Fife gave up one run in his lone start of the week and now has a 1.59 ERA since moving up to Salem.

If you know of any former Bells currently playing in any type of professional baseball, please let me know by sending an e-mail to BellinghamBellsBlog@gmail.com. All of your assistance is greatly appreciated.

JOHNNY BOWDEN | Played for Bells in 2005
Drafted: 41st Round in 2007 by the Colorado Rockies
Current Team: Tulsa Drillers (AA)

Bowden is currently on the disabled list and has not played since May 4.

STEPHEN FIFE | Played for Bells in 2007
Drafted: 3rd Round in 2008 by the Boston Red Sox
Current Team: Salem Red Sox (A)

Fife picked up his first win since being promoted to Class A Advanced Salem of the Carolina league two week ago. In one appearance this past week, Fife pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run while striking out seven batters to garner the victory. In two appearances for Salem, Fife now has a 1.59 ERA.

SEAN HALTON | Played for Bells in 2008
Drafted: 13th Round in 2009 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Current Team: Helena Brewers (R)

After hitting .330 in 25 games with the AZL Brewers, Halton was bumped up to the rookie Pioneer League. The move up has been slow-going for Halton who is hitting just .182 with the Helena Brewers through his first three games with the club.

MARK HOLLIMAN | Played for Bells in 2005
Drafted: 3rd Round in 2005 by the Chicago Cubs
Current Team: Huntsville Stars (AA)

Holliman gave up six runs on seven hits in his lone start of the week for Huntsville. He was tagged with the loss after 4 innings on the mound and has now gone 0-3 with a 10.53 ERA in his last three starts.

EDDIE KUNZ | Played for Bells in 2005
Drafted: 1st Round in 2007 by the New York Mets
Current Team: Buffalo Bisons (AAA)

In two relief appearances, Kunz pitched 3 innings and allowed just one run one on one hit while striking out a batter and walking a pair.

BRANDON PULLEN | Played for Bells in 2007
Drafted: 37th Round in 2008 by the Seattle Mariners
Current Team: Everett AquaSox (A)

Pullen posted a 0-1 record last week in three relief appearance. He allowed three runs in 4 innings on the mound while striking out four.

STEVE SPURGEON | Played for Bells in 2005
Drafted: Undrafted
Current Team: Sioux City Explorers (IND)

Spurgeon gave up four runs during a two-inning start last week in his only appearance. He suffered the loss.

MATT STABELFELD | Played for Bells in 2008
Drafted: 41st Round in 2009 by the Tampa Bay Rays
Current Team: Princeton Rays (A)

Stabelfeld pitched just 2/3 of an inning last week and gave up two runs off of four hits, but did not factor into the decision.

BRANDON TULLIS | Played for Bells in 2009
Drafted: 8th Round by the Texas Rangers
Current Team: Spokane Indians (A)

Tullis continued to look sharp on the mound for Spokane giving up just one run in 6 innings of work last week in a five-inning start and one inning of relief. He struck out five in his start and has now struck out 32 batters in 28 1/3 professional innings of work.

Former Pacific International League-era Bells

ANTHONY CLAGGETT
Drafted: 11th Round in 2005 by the Detroit Tigers
Current Team: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)

After 29 relief appearances this season, Claggett was asked to start on Saturday, July 25. He gave up one run in four innings on the mound and suffered the loss. He also made one relief appearance last week in which he walked three and gave up two runs in 2 2/3.

KEVIN RICHARDSON | Played for Bells in 2000
Drafted: Undrafted
Current Team: Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA)

Richardson went 6 of 20 (.300) at the plate last week with a home run and 5 RBI. He also scored three runs and raised his season average to .217. Richardson is currently hitting .278 in his last 10 games.

EMERSON FROSTAD
Drafted: 13th Round in 2003 by the Texas Rangers
Current Team: Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA)

Frostad played in just two games last week and was 1 of 5 at the plate with a double.

TY TAUBENHEIM
Drafted: 19th Round in 2003 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Current Team: Indianapolis Indians (AAA)

Did not appear in any games last week.

The Bellingham Bells have postponed Saturday’s game against the Bend Elks until Sunday, July 26, due to inclement weather in the Bellingham area.

Bellingham and Bend are now scheduled to play two seven innings games on Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Joe Martin Field; the second game will begin no sooner than the originally scheduled 4 p.m.start time.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are good for any remaining Bells regular season home game while tickets for Sunday’s original 4 p.m. game can be used to watch both halves of Sunday’s doubleheader.

For more information, contact the Bells Ticket Office at (360) 527-1035.

Bellingham’s 13-inning loss against the Bend Elks on Friday, July 24, moved Bellingham down in the West Division standings in the West Coast League and, for the moment, out of the playoff picture.

But there are still 14 games remaining in the WCL and the Bells are only one game behind second-place Bend. Bellingham has five more meetings with the Elks this season and plenty of time to grab the final postseason spot in the West Division. But as the season continues to wind down, wins are high on the priority list with the Bells looking to break out of a six-game losing funk.

With just 15 games remaining for Bellingham in the West Coast League regular season, the Bells are currently in a second-place tie with the Bend Elks for the final playoff spot in the West Division. Tonight, July 24, Bellingham plays host to those very same Elks to open an eight-game WCL homestand.

Bells bench boss Brandon Newell told the Bellingham Herald that “this is the time of the year when we have to buckle down and get tougher mentally,” following a recent road trip in which the Bells lost their final four games.

Bellingham has only reached the playoffs once since joining the WCL (formerly known as the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League) in 2005. In the league’s inaugural season, Bellingham reached the title game but lost in the one-game, winner-take-all championship to the Wenatchee AppleSox. Although the Bells reached the championship game in 2005, they still posted a sub-.500 record at 17-19. Since 2005, the Bells have posted records of 11-31 in 2006, 16-25 in 2007, and 17-25 in 2008.

Now, with just 15 regular season games left, the Bells have already matched their WCL-era win total and sit justin above the .500 mark with a 17- 16 record.

Less than one week ago the Bells were 17-12 and alone in second place after taking two of three games on the road in Bend. Now, back in a tie for the final playoff spot with Bend, Bellingham will host 11 of its final 15 WCL games including six head-to-head meetings with the Elks.

The Bells also play three more games against league-leading Corvallis–a team they are just 2-7 against this season despite holding a 2-1 edge at home over the Knights.

Bellingham also hosts Kitsap twice before playing four against the BlueJackets on the road. So far this season the Bells have a 4-2 advantage against the BlueJackets. The Bells are also 4-2 against Bend this year.

Bells Schedule | Bells Statistics & Results | Bells Ticket Office: (360) 257-1035

After playing their last 14 West Coast League games on the road, the Bellingham Bells return to Joe Martin Field for an exhibition game Thursday, July 23, before returning to league action at home on Friday, July 24, against the Bend Elks.

Bellingham ended its last road trip with four straight losses, including a series sweep to league-leading Corvallis, but the bells are in a great position with 11 of their final 15 WCL games at home where they are 12-6 overall this season—8-5 in WCL action.

The Bells are hoping to build on their current eight-game win streak at Joe Martin Field and earn a spot in the WCL postseason. Currently, the Bells are tied with Bend for the final playoff spot in the West Division; both teams are 10 games behind Corvallis.

Thursday, July 23, marks the final exhibition game of the season for Bellingham as the Bells host the Seattle Studs of the Pacific International League. Action then heats up at The Joe Friday, July 24, as the Bells open a three-game set against Bend looking to create some separation in the standings. Bellingham then hosts Corvallis for three crucial games beginning Tuesday, July 28, before playing two at home against the Kitsap BlueJackets to wrap up a nine-game homestand.

But after a one-night road trip to Kitsap, the Bells are back at home for three more games against Bend before wrapping up the season with three more games on the road against Kitsap

July 23 – vs. Seattle Studs (exh) – College Night
July 24 – vs. Bend Elks – Haggen $1 Family Feast Night promoted by Praise 106.5
July 25 – vs. Bend Elks – Banner Bank Piggy Bank Giveaway | Chappaz Massage free massages
July 26 – vs. Bend Elks
July 28 – vs. Corvallis Knights
July 29 – vs. Corvallis Knights
July 30 – vs. Corvallis Knights – College Night
July 31 – vs. Kitsap BlueJackets – Haggen $1 Family Feast Night promoted by Praise 106.5
August 1 – vs. Kitsap BlueJackets – Postgame Fireworks
August 4 – vs. Bend Elks
August 5 – vs. Bend Elks
August 6 – vs. Bend Elks – Fan Appreciation Night