Because the Victoria HarbourCats fattened up with five wins against the last-place Kelowna Falcons (2-8) in their first nine games, some observers can be excused for wondering just how good the squad is or can be.
The Bellingham Bells figured to be a better measuring stick.
The Bells defeated the HarbourCats 3-1 Tuesday night at Joe Martin Stadium, leaving both teams at 7-3 atop the early season standings in the North Division of the West Coast League of baseball.
鈥淭he difference was their starting and relief pitching,鈥� said Victoria manager Dennis Rogers, after the game.
鈥淭his is the first time we faced a staff that had secondary pitches and our offence couldn鈥檛 deliver. We鈥檝e been facing the fastball most of the year. But we鈥檒l make the adjustments.鈥�
The HarbourCats have lost two consecutive games, while the Bells have won four straight games.
Joe Navilhon, from Cal State-Fullerton, got the start for Victoria and went six innings, giving up seven hits, three runs, two walks with five strikeouts.
Will Ballowe, who just completed his freshman season with the University of Washington Huskies, joined the HarbourCats on Tuesday and was put to work immediately. The six-foot-five, 225-pound Californian came on in relief to start the seventh inning and allowed no hits, no walks and struck out two in his two innings of work.
Bellingham starter Jason Hager went five innings, giving up three hits and one run for the win.
HarbourCats newcomer, centre-fielder Jordan Ellis from Cal Poly, had a good debut at the plate with two hits and Victoria鈥檚 lone run.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a legitimate lead-off man,鈥� said Rogers.
鈥淗e gives us an added dimension at the top of the order.鈥�
First baseman Alex Real, an Atlanta Braves draft pick from the University of New Mexico, had two hits to push his batting average to .433 over seven games.
The clubs meet again tonight and Thursday in Bellingham.
Then the HarbourCats are home to face the Bend Elks in a three-game set starting Friday night at Royal Athletic Park.
