Walk-offs, errors bring an end to both first round series

Neither of the two WCL first round series will be going to a game three after two walk-off victories Wednesday night by both Bellingham and Corvalis.

The Bells, who won Tuesday's first game on the road in Yakima 4-1, came home to play a near perfect game two. The Bells jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning before giving two back in the third. Yakima tied it in the top of the 8th after error by Bells shortstop Chris baker to lead of the inning came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Yakima gave the game back in the bottom of the ninth with two errors of their own. Closer Kenny Rosenberg threw a ball away at first to start the inning, and second baseman Ryan Yamane made a costly two-out error to prolong the inning. Bells pinch hitter Danny Miller - who's been killing teams all season - did the same to the Pippens, driving a single to left center to win the game for the Bells in walk-off fashion.

With the win, the Bells advance to play the Corvalis Knights. The Knights win on Wednesday makes Bellingham's victory seem boring. Baffled all night by Bend pitchers - starter Kevin Hamann and reliever Louis Cohen - the Knights went to the bottom of the ninth trailing 1-0.With one out, Bend's Brock Carpenter couldn't field a routine ground ball to third, bringing DH Kevin Kline to the plate with a man on. Kline who was 1-3 with 2 K's on the night launched the first pitch he saw over the wall in left center for a two-run home run walk-off shot.

The WCL final should start Saturday in Bellingham but it has not been announced if the Bells will be able to host one more game at home before their field is demolished. Wednesday's game was played at Joe Martin field on special considerations from the city, who had delayed closure of the facility in order for the game to proceed. Most concessions were closed already, but the team was helped out by local food trucks who set up outside the stadium prior to the game.

The Bells and Knights met only three times this season, in a series in Bellingham in mid-July. Corvalis won two of the games, but both teams scored only five total runs in the pitcher's duels. The Knight are of course, defending WCL champions who are looking to repeat, and win their third championship in the last four years. Good luck to both teams!