The Kamloops NorthPaws lost a wild game one of their weekend series to the Bellingham Bells 14-12 in 11 innings. The Bells held the lead until a huge six-run bottom of the eighth put the Kamloops up by five. The Bells were able to string together hits and tie the game in the top of the ninth, leaving many in disbelief. The NorthPaws left five runners on base in the final three innings with a chance to win. Three runs in the top of the 11th were enough to seal it for the Bells.
Friday night saw local hockey hero Logan Stankoven throw out the first pitch. The festivities were centred around him as fans were allowed to bring two items for him to sign before the first pitch. The stadium saw its largest crowd of the season, with an estimated 750+ fans packed into the stands on Friday night.
The game got off to a rocky start for the NorthPaws and their starter, righty JM Harduvel. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up three runs and walking four batters, all while not allowing a hit. Righty Lucas Dykstra came on in relief, throwing four and a third innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits.
The NorthPaws trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third and would mount a comeback. First baseman Jared Hall and center fielder Connor Clark both reached base. Shortstop Drew Schmidt then advanced them 90 feet on a sacrifice groundout. Designated hitter Joey Rico walked to load the bases. With second baseman Tanner Hornback at the plate, three runs would score. A past ball got the NorthPaws on the board before Hornback singled to center field, scoring two and tying the game.
The Bells were pesky at the plate and didn’t let the NorthPaws newly found momentum slow them down. Bellingham would score a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, holding the lead once again.
In the bottom of the fifth, the NorthPaws loaded the bases again and cashed in. With one out, Catcher Kalen Applefield collected an RBI on a sacrifice ground ball. Left fielder Cade Palkowski was next up and hit a ground ball to second that took a weird hop and ended up in right field once again tying the game.
With the Bells regaining the lead in the sixth, it was crunch time for the NorthPaws, and they turned the game upside down in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kamloops once again had the bases loaded and with two outs, Rico was at the plate. He got hit by a pitch as the NorthPaws tied things up again.
Hornback followed that up with two more RBIs, giving Kamloops their first lead. Third baseman Elijah Clayton would continue the inning with a single, scoring Rico, making it 9-6. Applefield then hit a fly ball to shallow left field that got lost by the fielders and dropped for a double, scoring two more runs. It was an explosion at the plate for the NorthPaws, and suddenly they were three outs away from stealing game one.
The top of the ninth started innocently with a flyout. A one-out walk and a wild pitch advanced the runner to second. A ground ball to Schmidt seemed routine, but the throw was slightly off to first base, and a controversial call ruled that Hall’s back foot came off the base. Things unravelled from there. Four of the next five batters would hit RBI singles, tying the game and stunning Norbrock Stadium.
After that big eighth inning, the NorthPaws’ luck seemed to run out. Kamloops had runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and runners on first and second with one out in the 10th and were unable to convert.
Finally, in the 11th, Bellingham made them pay. The Bells had runners at second and third and executed a suicide squeeze up the first baseline. It was perfectly played as two runs came in to score, giving Bellingham the lead back. They added another insurance run, going up three runs.
The NorthPaws added one more in the bottom half but couldn’t get any more. Bellingham completed the near-impossible comeback, beating the NorthPaws for the sixth time and fourth straight time in Kamloops. The NorthPaws will look for revenge tomorrow night as the team dons their retro Sanpipiers jerseys.
It will be a special night as 14 members of the former senior men’s baseball team will be on hand as the community will come together to celebrate their legacy for baseball in Kamloops. The first pitch is set for 6:35. Early arrival is recommended to catch the pregame festivities.
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