The Kamloops Sandpipers dropped game two 11-6 at the hands of the Bellingham Bells on Saturday night. Retro night saw former members of the Sandpiper honoured before the game, giving the community a blast from the past and a glimpse into their former glory.
The Sandpipers got a quality start from Keith Manby, who went four innings, giving up two earned runs. Kamloops rallied to get within two runs and trailed 7-5 heading into the sixth. The Bells offence caught fire, and third baseman Nate Kirkpatrick went five for five, including a grand slam in that sixth inning. Kirkpatrick drove in seven of the eleven runs for Bellingham, putting the team on his back.
The Sandpipers got on the board first with a familiar face doing damage. Second baseman Tanner Hornback singled and drove in the first run of the game. The Bells would tie it up in the top of the second as Kirkpatrick hit a solo home run, making it the first earned run Manby has given up this season.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning as Kirkpatrick doubled to give the Bells the lead. In the bottom half, Sandpipers catcher Brendan Burke sent a single to left center field, scoring Kalen Applefield.
The Bells put up a crooked frame in the fifth, capitalizing on a lack of command on the mound for Kamloops. Two walks, three hit batters, one single, and one past ball resulted in five runners crossing the plate for Bellingham.
The Sandpipers would recover as shortstop Drew Schmidt led off, getting hit by a pitch. First baseman Joey Rico was next up and sent a ball to left center field that would one-hop over the wall. Schmidt scored, and Rico reached third with a triple. Hornback followed suit with a single recording his second RBI of the game. Two batters later, left fielder Cade Palkowski reached first on a fielder’s choice, bringing in the third run of the inning.
Despite the Sandpipers making it a two-run game, Bellingham wasn’t phased. A pair of two-out walks brought Kirkpatrick back to the plate with the bases loaded. Facing a 0-2 count, Kirkpatrick hammered a no-doubt grand slam over the left field fence. Norbrock Stadium was stunned once again by the Bells’ bats.
Just as Kamloops looked to get out of a jam, one swing of the bat decided the fate of the game for the Sandpipers. The team scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but that would be all.
The night wasn’t all bad, however, as many of the former Sandpipers remarked on how much fun the team reunion was and how cool it was to see the Sandpiper name get revived for the night. All of the game-worn jerseys are set to be auctioned off at a later date.
The team will return to their usual name on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the weekend series with Bellingham before heading into the All-Star break. The team will be back in action following a few days off next weekend in Edmonton for three games.
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