Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2009

WCL BASEBALL: Bells win at home

BELLINGHAM - Bellingham used a season-high 14 hits and six Kelowna errors to score at least one run in every inning but the third en route to a 9-4 series-opening victory over the Falcons on Tuesday, June 30, at Joe Martin Field.

Catcher Mike Chiarelli reached base in all five of his plate appearance. After walking in the first inning, Chiarelli singled in each of his next four at-bats to finish 4 of 4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

The Bells (7-9) also received three hits each from Chris Amezquita and Danny Hennigs as part of their season-high 14-hit performance.

"Offensively we really needed a game like this to hopefully get us some momentum as we get deeper into the season," said Bells head coach Brandon Newell in a press release. "We were more patient at the plate tonight and that gave our guys a chance to get better pitches late in the count."

Zack Fowler gave up all four of Kelowna's runs in his 5 1/3 innings on the mound before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Jordan Stern came in and struck out four of the eight batters he faced in 2 2/3 before Seth Harvey pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win.

Kelowna's Cody Aycock was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs - two earned - off of 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Although the Falcons (10-6) suffered from six errors in the contest, Aycock didn't help his own cause as he had two wild pitches and two errors on his final line.

The Bells and Falcons continue their series Wednesday, July 1, with a game at 7 p.m. Bellingham will be looking to clinch the series as it sends Alex Besaw to the mound.

Tickets for Wednesday's game are available and can be purchased by contacting the Bells ticket office at 527-1035.

KELOWNA 4, BELLINGHAM 9

KELOWNA AB R H BI BELLINGHAM AB R H BI

Tanaka cf 3 0 0 1 Leighton cf 4 1 1 1

Templeton ss 4 1 1 0 Hertler 2b 3 0 0 0

Mihaylo rf 3 1 1 0 Claussen lf 4 1 1 1

Jenkins 1b 3 1 1 2 Amezquita 3b 5 3 3 0

Mayo c 3 0 0 0 Chiarelli c 4 1 4 1

Jemmett 2b 3 0 0 0 Brett 1b 4 0 1 1

Kudlock lf 4 1 1 1 Purser rf 4 2 1 1

Hsieh dh 3 0 0 0 Hennigs dh 5 1 3 1

Aldrete 3b 2 0 1 0 Richter ss 4 0 0 1

Totals 28 4 5 4 Totals 37 9 14 7

Kelowna 000 112 000 - 4 5 6

Bellingham 210 111 12x - 9 14 1

E - Kudlock 2(2); Aldrete 2(8); Aycock 2(2); Claussen(6). DP - Falcons 1; Bells 1.

LOB - Falcons 4; Bells 12. 2B - Jenkins(3); Amezquita(2). HBP - Purser. SH -

Jemmett(1); Hsieh(1); Leighton(4); Richter(1). SF - Tanaka(1); Claussen(1). SB -

Mihaylo; Aldrete(1).

Kelowna IP H R ER BB SO

Aycock 5.1 10 6 2 3 4

Friedman 2.2 4 3 3 1 1

Bellingham IP H R ER BB SO

Fowler 5.1 5 4 3 4 3

Stern 2.2 0 0 0 0 4

Harvey 1.0 0 0 0 0 0

Win - Fowler (1-2). Loss - Aycock (0-2). Save - None.

WP - Aycock 2(2). HBP - by Friedman (Purser). BK - Friedman(1).

Time: 2:23