The Bellingham Bells clinched the final WCL playoff spot last night with a 4-3 extra-inning win at Wenatchee. Bellingham will face Victoria in the North Divisional Series. Game one is set for Bellingham’s Joe Martin Field on Tuesday, August 9. Games two and three (if necessary) will be held at Royal Athletic Park Wednesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 11.

Bellingham’s magic number is one to secure the second-half North title. Either a Bells win or HarbourCats loss clinches the North second-half championship for Bellingham. The Bells are currently 16-9 in the second half (and 31-21 overall) while Victoria is 15-10. Bellingham owns the tie-breaker with the Cats and they finish with two more games at Wenatchee while Victoria wraps its regular season at home vs. Yakima Valley.

WCL batting leader Shane Hanon of Bellingham hit a three-run homer last night in the Bells’ 4-3 victory. The Edmonds CC sophomore-to-be outfielder has been Bellingham’s catalyst and is hitting a league-high .331. The Bells’ pitching staff features arguably the top two relievers in the WCL with Gonzaga right-hander Sam Hellinger and future Cal hurler Jared Horn. Hellinger leads the WCL in saves with 12 and has posted a miniscule 0.33 ERA. Horn, a 20th round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, is 1-0 with a save and has posted a 1.50 ERA while striking out 16 over 13 appearances and 18 innings pitched.

Bellingham won its first league title in 2014 and will be making their third consecutive WCL postseason appearance.