Bells open season with local flavor
Bellingham’s Austin Shenton, Sehome’s Josh Zavisubin and Squalicum’s David Stealy have each made lasting memories playing at their hometown’s Joe Martin Field.
Three of Whatcom County’s most talented baseball players the past couple seasons, the trio will now be wearing the same uniform, playing for the same Bellingham team.
Stealy, a sophomore pitcher at Skagit Valley College, and Zavisubin, a sophomore pitcher at the University of Puget Sound, are playing out 10-day contracts, while Shenton is expected to join the Bells once high school ends in the coming weeks.
“It’s pretty exciting, honestly,” said Shenton, who is expected to get drafted in the first 10 rounds of the MLB draft at the end of the week, on playing with the Bells. “It’s been a long journey for me to get to this point, playing in different states, even different countries. Last summer I was gone for 60 days, so this summer it will be really nice to play in front of people I know.”
The Bells return after making a playoff run last season, and after a 1-2 start to the season following a road trip to Kelowna, Bellingham plays its first home game at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at Joe Martin Field.
An expected sellout, Bells General Manager Stephanie Morrell implored fans to show up early in order to buy tickets, assuming some getting to Joe Martin around first pitch could be turned away.
For Shenton, the chance to play with Stealy and Zavisubin — two pitchers Shenton faced several times — is something he’s looking forward to.
“I grew up playing with and against those two guys,” Shenton, who primarily plays third, said. “It’s funny to see where baseball takes everyone, and it’s nice to be able to have guys I know on the team right off the bat.”
Bells newcomer Brock Anderson, who comes from Alabama and will be attending the University of Washington with Shenton in the fall, gives Shenton another familiar face.
Besides Shenton, Zavisubin and Stealy, Bellingham returns pitchers Brian Way, Hunter Haworth and Spencer Howard, who played a strong role on Bellingham’s playoff team in 2015.
“The job coach (Jim) Clem has done the past six years is remarkable,” Bells assistant coach Dane Siegfried said. “Match that with what the front office has done as far as getting the stands filled, it’s created something now nationwide. I’ve been in Bellingham my whole life, and to watch where (the Bellingham Bells) started in the early 2000s to what it is now, it’s remarkable.”
Tickets
Single game tickets prices are $7 for general admission and $9 for grandstand seating behind home plate
Kids under 3 years old get in free.
Can’t miss promotions
Two-dollar Tuesdays — The Bells have five $2 Tuesdays on the schedule. The popular promotion includes one ticket at regular price and a second for $2. Also, there will be $2 food and drink specials.
Dates: June 7, June 14, June 21, July 5, Aug. 2.
Fireworks nights — Three times the Bells have plans for postgame fireworks. Morrell said the plans are tentative due to needed approval from Whatcom County’s Fire Marshal.
Dates: June 7, July 3, Aug. 3.
Bobblehead nights —The Bells have two bobblehead giveaways planned. The first 750 fans on Friday, July 1, will receive a Dinger mascot bobblehead, and the first 750 fans on Saturday, July 23, will receive a Raul Ibanez bobblehead.
Dates: July 1, July 23.
Family fun at the ballpark
The Bells already allow kids to run across the outfield during a break between innings and allow for postgame autographs. But the Bells’ Family Fun Days offer even more fun for kids.
Three Family Fun Days are on the schedule for 3:05 p.m. start times. They include a bounce house, face painting, balloon art, bubbles and other activities. All the activities are included with the price of admission.
Dates: June 12, July 17, July 31
Good eats
Here’s a look at what’s one the menu at Joe Martin Field:
Meal items: Hempler’s Bells Dog, Hempler’s Hum-Dinger, Hempler’s Bratwurst, Hempler’s Spicy Link, Little Caesar’s Pizza By the Slice, hamburgers.
Snacks: Candy, chips, Dairy Queen Ice Cream Sandwich, kettle corn, peanuts, popcorn, Ralf’s Bavarian Pretzels, nachos, sunflower seeds.
Beverages: Beer (rotating selection of Boundary Bay and Sound Beverage), Pepsi products, bottled water, Gatorade
2016 Bellingham Bells schedule
Date | Opponent | Time |
June 3 | at Kelowna | W 5-2 |
June 4 | at Kelowna | L 5-4 |
June 5 | at Kelowna | L 9-8 |
June 7 | Corvallis | 7:05 p.m. |
June 8 | Corvallis | 7:05 p.m. |
June 9 | Corvallis | 7:05 p.m. |
June 10 | Bend | 7:05 p.m. |
June 11 | Bend | 7:05 p.m. |
June 12 | Bend | 3:05 p.m. |
June 14 | Merchants | 7:05 p.m. |
June 15 | Emeralds | 7:05 p.m. |
June 17 | at Walla Walla | 7:05 p.m. |
June 18 | at Walla Walla | 7:05 p.m. |
June 19 | at Walla Walla | 5:05 p.m. |
June 20 | at Kitsap | 6:35 p.m. |
June 21 | Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
June 22 | Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
June 23 | Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
June 24 | at Bend | 6:35 p.m. |
June 25 | at Bend | 6:35 p.m. |
June 26 | at Bend | 5:05 p.m. |
June 27 | at Corvallis | 6:35 p.m. |
June 28 | at Corvallis | 6:35 p.m. |
June 29 | at Corvallis | 6:35 p.m. |
July 1 | Emeralds | 7:05 p.m. |
July 2 | at Kitsap | 6:35 p.m. |
July 3 | Cowlitz | 7:05 p.m. |
July 4 | Cowlitz | 1:05 p.m. |
July 5 | Cowlitz | 7:05 p.m. |
July 7 | Kitsap | 7:05 p.m. |
July 8 | Kitsap | 7:05 p.m. |
July 9 | Kitsap | 7:05 p.m. |
July 11 | at Kitsap | 6:35 p.m. |
July 12 | at Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
July 13 | at Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
July 14 | at Yakima | 7:05 p.m. |
July 15 | Walla Walla | 7:05 p.m. |
July 16 | Walla Walla | 7:05 p.m. |
July 17 | Walla Walla | 3:05 p.m. |
July 19 | at WCL All-Star Game | TBD |
July 20 | at Victoria | 6:35 p.m. |
July 21 | at Victoria | 6:35 p.m. |
July 22 | at Victoria | 6:35 p.m. |
July 23 | Wenatchee | 7:05 p.m. |
July 24 | Wenatchee | 3:05 p.m. |
July 25 | Wenatchee | 7:05 p.m. |
July 26 | at Cowlitz | 6:35 p..m. |
July 27 | at Cowlitz | 6:35 p.m. |
July 28 | at Cowlitz | 6:35 p.m. |
July 29 | Victoria | 7:05 p.m. |
July 30 | Victoria | 7:05 p.m. |
July 31 | Victoria | 3:05 p.m. |
Aug. 1 | Kelowna | 7:05 p.m. |
Aug. 2 | Kelowna | 7:05 p.m. |
Aug. 3 | Kelowna | 7:05 p.m |
Aug. 5 | at Wenatchee | 7:05 p.m. |
Aug. 6 | at Wenatchee | 7:05 p.m. |
Aug. 7 | at Wenatchee | 6:05 p.m. |
Note: All home games played at Joe Martin Field
This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 9:53 PM with the headline "Bells open season with local flavor."