BELLS: Bells win in final at-bat in Locker's last game

Locker has key hit in his last summer league game

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It was only fitting that Jake Locker play a pivotal role in his final game with the Bellingham Bells.

Locker had a key hit in a three-run bottom of the ninth inning and Bellingham came from behind to defeat Corvallis 4-3 in a West Coast Collegiate Baseball League game on Sunday at Joe Martin Field.

The former Ferndale standout quarterback will take some time off before resuming football duties as the start of fall practice for the University of Washington begins on Aug. 4.

| ANDY BRONSON THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

But he chose to spend much of his summer playing for the Bells, totaling 15 games (five nonleague, 10 WCCBL), including his 3 for 4 effort on Sunday.

“We are going to miss his personality,” Bellingham coach Brandon Newell said in a phone interview. “His competitiveness and personality is infectious.”

Locker finished his time with the Bells hitting .273 with one home run, two doubles and four stolen bases in 10 league games.

“He never seems overmatched because he competes so well,” Newell said. “That last at-bat epitomizes what Jake is.”

The bottom of the ninth started with Danny Hennigs being hit by a pitch. After an out, Locker hit a double down the right field line to put runners at second and third. After another out, Kai Hatch hit a two-run single to score pinch-runner Brady Locker and Jake Locker. The next three Bells batters walked to force in the game-winning run.

All this came against Taylor Starr, who plays at Oregon State and throws in the mid 90s. He also had a save earlier in the three-game series.

“We had a couple good at-bats,” Newell said. “Jake just competed his tail off and stayed on the ball and hit it down the line for a double.”

Josh Fish started the game for Bellingham and gave up two runs in five innings. Alex Besaw, who got the victory, pitched the final four innings and gave up an unearned run.

“Our pitchers have done a great job all week,” Newell said.

The victory improves the Bells, who were two games behind Kitsap in the win column in the West Division, to 12-15. The top two teams from each division advance to the playoffs.

The win also came against the top team in the West (Corvallis dropped to 19-8).

“It was a great win to salvage the series against the team who has the best record in our league,” Newell said. “We definitely are playing better. … Three hard-fought games between two good teams.”

Newell also believes the team is heading in the right direction.

“It’s starting to become important for our guys to not let each other down,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun ride the last month because of that fact. When you get chemistry on the team, that is sometimes enough to will you to wins.”

Bellingham, which went 4-2 on the homestand, starts a six-game road trip at Spokane on Tuesday.