The Bellingham Bells took the opening game in the battle of West Coast League leaders.
The host Bells scored in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 2-1 victory over the Victoria HarbouCats on Friday night at Joe Martin Field.
The score was tied 1-1 in the first inning followed by nine scoreless innings. Dean West scored the winning run from second base on a Victoria error.
Nick Dumesnil and Tripp Clark had two hits each for the HarbourCats while Hudson Shupe and Lance Brewster added doubles. Closer Alan Dai took the loss for Victoria and reliever James Trimble the win for Bellingham.
It was a key result atop the North Division standings as Bellingham moved to 13-3 and Victoria went to 14-5. The teams meet again today and Sunday before the HarbourCats start a three-game set Monday night in Kelowna against the Falcons.
The HarbourCats return to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park next Friday night to begin a three-game set against the Bells. The six games over the week between Victoria and Bellingham will go a long way toward deciding the North Division first-half champion.
