Fireworks During Game and After as Hawks Explode Against Bells

2026-07-01

The Riverhawks continue their streak with an 8-3 Canada Day Win!

By Larry Read

EDMONTON, AB—The Edmonton Riverhawks celebrated Canada Day in a way they have been accustomed toe. The Riverhawks won their sixth straight game taking the five-time league champion Bellingham Bells 8-3 in West Coast League action Wednesday (July 1) at RE/MAX Field.For the third straight Canada Day, the Hawks played before a capacity crowd of 9,200. It was the Hawks second straight win over Bellingham. Edmonton moves to 13-12 while the Bells fall to 19-10. The Riverhawks have yet to lose at home on this day.The Hawks are also the hottest team in the WCL –on this six game ‘heater’.The Riverhawks scored eight runs on 10 hits. Bellingham had three runs on six hits and committed three errors.“We continue to play better and better baseball, “ says Riverhawks head coach Jake Lanferman. “ We are getting the outcome we want at the same time as the players are doing exactly what we are asking of them. They have bought into our philosophy. Pitchers aren’t walking guys, we are trusting our defence—it's been much better. We are swinging the bats astronomically better than we were at the start of the year. We are hitting the ball all over the place. Finding the places we want to hit.”Lanferman added, “Bellingham is a really great team. We are proving that we are too. We are trusting our ability and the roster we have set up. Now that we have all the guys here, we have some momentum. Hopefully we will win more baseball games.”The game was delayed by rain for almost an hour after the teams played a half inning.Edmonton got on the board in the bottom of the second. With two out, #36 Mitchell Middlemiss stroked the ball to the warning track in right centerfield. It was ruled a ground rule double due to the wet warning track. Middlemiss scored when the next batter, #32 Jason Green hit it up the middle. Green would score after #10 Cole Kriesel found a hole in straight away center and it was 2-0 Riverhawks.Bellingham got on the board in the top of the third. # 22 Tyler Peshke came up with a one out single to center field. He came across home plate when #2 Aspen Alexander reached base on a fielder’s choice.Kriesel engineered Edmonton’s third run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. With two out and two on, he hit a ground rule double to right field which brought in Middlemiss, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.In the fifth, The Riverhawks loaded the bases. Middlemiss ground out to Bells second baseman Alexander which brought in #31 Kotaro Wakui from third base. Wakui got on after being hit by a pitch. #39 Chris Parkin walked and later scored from third when # 48 Max Stagg hit a ground ball and made it to first when Bell’s first baseman #19 Matt Churchill lept into the air to make the catch. He was charged with an error as the Hawks took a 5-1 lead.The home team added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Parkin was hit by a pitch and then scored when # 51 Easton Andrews placed the ball into left center field. Andrews wound up with an RBI double. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Green. Stagg made it 8-1 after singling to left center and scoring on a fielding error by Bellingham right fielder #8 Noah Cassie.Bellingham cut the deficit in the top of the 8th. Riverhawks reliever #19 Carter Fink served up a lead off single to #10 Dillon Moss. Moss would later score on a one out double off the bat of #6 Nate Johnson. Johnson later scored when #9 Jaden Johnson reached base on a fielders choice. That made it 8-3.#30 Sam Coxen was the winning pitcher. The Granite Bay, California righthander went five innings. He gave up a run on two hits while striking out six. He goes to 2 and 2 on the season.“He has been doing it all year,’ Lanferman said about his starter. “ I am very proud of the guy. He committed to Oregon State last week on a scholarship. He has earned very second of it. He is an elite pitcher. He commands the outside part of the zone with the fastball. His stuff plays off of it extremely well. To have that ability to settle into a game early and allow our offense to go to work gives everybody on our team more confidence.”Bellingham’s #12 JJ Martinson took the loss (2-2). He went three and two thirds innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits with three strike outs.Offensively, Andrews and Stagg were both 2 for 4 while Green and Kriesel were 2 for 3 for Edmonton. Bellingham was led at the plate by Johnson who was 2 for 3.The Riverhawks and Bells wind up their series Thursday (July 2) with a 7:05 PM MDT start time. It is Foodie Night! In 2025, Foodie night had nacho cheese tubs and burrito bazookas. This year, we are going EVEN BIGGER to celebrate Edmonton’s amazing food scene!. For all the teachers, show a valid ATA card at the box office to get in free! More info on our website. It is our ‘Thirsty Thursday Promo’. The night is sponsored by EPCOR. EXTRA INNINGS: Pre-game ceremonies included 47 people from 18 countries being sworn in as new Canadians by Citizenship Judges. The Riverhawks wore special ‘Canada Day’ uniforms which were red and black plaid shirts with no sleeves, white pants and black socks. The uniforms were auctioned off with proceeds going to the Riverhawks Community Foundation. Lanferman speaks about the special feeling at the ball park on Canada Day for his players. “ I think it is special because everybody (the fans) are here to support us. They are here to watch the fireworks (City of Edmonton stages them at a nearby park). The support from the city as a whole for our team has been massive. I think away teams who come here on Canada Day---play before likely the biggest crowd ever. For them, it could be a little much but for us, the large crowds we get on a regular basis gives us an advantage.” Looking for tickets in advance? Go to tickets.gohawks.ca to secure yourself a seat. Follow along with the game at @RiverhawksGames on X and keep up with everything happening with the Hawks on Instagram, Facebook, @EdmRiverhawks, and TikTok. See all the latest news at riverhawksbaseball.com.