Bells' hopes still alive!

The Bellingham Bells are a step closer to making the WCL playoffs after a convincing 8-2 win over the HarbourCats Friday night. The win, coupled with a Wenatchee loss in Kelowna puts the Bells 2.5 games back of the AppleSox for second place in the North Division. If the Bells continue to win, and the Sox continue to lose, Bellingham will make the playoffs.

Friday night's game had a bit of everything. In a segment approved by Clint Eastwood, we give you...

The Good

Alex Calbick

• Bells third baseman Alex Calbick goes 4-5, with a single, a double, and two rocket-shot home runs. Hard not to like Alex - he's from Coquitlam, and played on Canada's junior team. His near-perfect night leapfrogged him into first place for the WCL batting crown, passing Wenatchee's Connor Spencer who only went 2-4 on the night. Calbick sits at .382 to Spencer's .376.

• Mr August, John Schuknecht hit his 4th home run of the month, moving himself into second place in the WCL Home Run race with 6, just 2 behind league leader and Home Run Derby Leader Cody Hough.

• The fans were out in full force! Not sure what to expect as the team struggles down the stretch, ticket sales were exceptional, with 1700+ passing through the gate. A great crowd on a beautiful warm summer night. The crowd moves Victoria closer to the top of the WCL attendance list, less than 20 bums less per game than second place Medford. With similar crowds the rest of the weekend, Victoria should be second behind only the Bend Elks (who average almost 200 more a game than Victoria).

• Brandon Smith, whom despite going 0-4 in the leadoff spot, still hasn't given up on a ball hit anywhere near center field this year. Yet another fantastic flat-out catch tonight to take away a sure hit.

The Bad

Mr Floatie!

• On mascot night, all the local heroes come out to the park with a couple of notable exceptions... Turbo the Harbour Air mascot, who's been to a couple games now, was nowhere to be found. Seymour Seal (you know, he's still in town!) would have been a real treat for the throwback fans at the park. And the one mascot Victoria can claim as their own without a doubt - Mr Floatie, was left off the invite list.

• No Russells. Not a single AB or pitch thrown by the trio tonight.

The Ugly

• Back... back... back... gone! Victoria pitchers gave up 5 home runs tonight, raising their total given up on the season to 40. Forty home runs is 17 higher than the next closest team, and a whopping 14 over the previous league record for most dingers given up in a season.

There you have it. More good than bad if you look for it.

New-guy starter Daniel Koo, and new-new-guy reliever Emilio Foden (added to the roster just before game time) had interesting nights on the mound. Both looked composed making their first appearances in front of a sizable crowd, had good control and success against the weaker hitters, but were over-matched by the likes of Calbick and catcher Jake Bailey (who went 3-5 with a monster HR on the night).

For the rest of the series... it would be great to see BC boy Alex Calbick keep his lead and win the batting title, as it would be nice to see John Schuknecht put two or three more out to challenge for the HR title. Lots to cheer about at RAP!