The 2023 Bellingham Bells are about to begin their run in the West Coast League playoffs on Tuesday, Aug. 8, against the Kelowna Falcons after their 53-game regular season concluded this past weekend.
Ahead of the postseason, three of the team’s top players submitted answers to questions posed by Cascadia Daily News.
Get to know a few of the impact players from the Bells’ stellar regular season:
Ryan Beitel
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Beitel pitches against the Nanaimo NightOwls July 14, at Joe Martin Stadium. The Bells won 5-2. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Age: 22
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia
Current college: University of British Columbia
Baseball position: RHP
Number of seasons in WCL: 3
Number of seasons with the Bells: 3
Regular Season stats: 39.1 IP (leads team), 38 K, 30 H, 7 ER, 1.60 ERA, 5-1 W-L
Daryl Ruiz
Daryl Ruiz, right, taps helmets with teammates at home plate on Wednesday, Aug. 2, after hitting a two-run homer against the Wenatchee AppleSox to help the Bells win the game, 3-2. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Age: 23
Hometown: Corona, California
Current college: California State University at San Bernardino
Baseball position: 1B
Number of seasons in WCL: 1
Number of seasons with the Bells: 1
Season stats: .250 AVG, 31 H, 20 RBI, 5 2B, 1 HR
Andrew Valdez
Andrew Valdez gets high-fives after his solo home run in June in the first inning of a walk-off win over the Victoria HarbourCats at Joe Martin Stadium. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Age: 22
Hometown: Visalia, California
Current college: Fresno Pacific University
Baseball position: OF
Number of seasons in WCL: 1
Number of seasons with the Bells: 1
Season stats: .326 AVG, 59 H, 29 RBI, 10 2B, 4 HR (leads team in all categories)
1. Do you have an isolated moment in your life where you fell in love with baseball? If so, explain. If not, how did you fall in love with the sport?
Beitel: I can’t think of one isolated moment when I fell in love with baseball. I grew up always at the ball diamond as my parents played competitive slowpitch in Canada. So, being at the field, I grew an early love for the sport and just continued developing and playing all the way to college.
Ruiz: My dad taught me at a young age and it was always the sport to play in my family, so I just fell in love with it and it’s always a challenge that I [strive] for.
Valdez: [My] senior year [of high school], in our Valley Championship baseball game, I hit a home run at our minor league field in Visalia, and from that moment on I realized I should really stick to baseball and pursue it.
2. The West Coast League is unique for college baseball players in the sheer number of games played in such a short span of time. How has that adjustment been for you?
Beitel: The adjustment has been good. Being a starting pitcher I only throw once a week, so it’s definitely a little more standing around and waiting than normal since we have games basically every day rather than having practices. I like this type of schedule a lot because it gives off the minor league travel type of atmosphere. I’ve found this is about as comparable to a minor league schedule that you can get in college.
Ruiz: I would say as the first month goes by you have to adjust your mindset and your body, just because at school I play four games on a weekend and then just go through practice. But here there’s no practice, always games, so I would always just give my body the rest it needs and fuel [my] body the right way.
Valdez: This summer has been a grind due to me almost playing every day. The adjustment part was just taking care of things off the field, such as nutrition, sleep and making sure your body is able to function at a high level every day because, if not, you will get humbled in this league if you aren’t prepared for that specific day.
3. What’s been your favorite moment from the 2023 summer season thus far?
Beitel: I don’t think I can find just one favorite moment from this 2023 season. Obviously winning the first half was pretty amazing but, honestly, I would have to say that just getting to hang out, travel and compete with my teammates has been my favorite thing. We have formed such a deep connection within our team and getting to do stuff outside of the ballpark has made this summer season one of the best I’ve had.
Ruiz: My favorite part is always coming out at home games and seeing our fans support us and always bringing the energy, which gives me the motivation to always give everything I can for my team.
Valdez: My favorite moment so far was winning the first half of the season. It goes to show you how the Bells came to the field every day ready to work. More importantly, we still got [the] playoffs to take care of, but I wouldn’t want to be on any other team going forward.
4. What goals did you have coming into the season? Have you met, fallen short of, or exceeded those goals?
Beitel: Being my third season, I already had an understanding of what the league is like and what to expect the hitters to be like. This spring I had a long, successful season, so my main goal was just to have fun every day at the ballpark and really enjoy my summer. I can definitely say that I’ve exceeded these goals as I’ve formed meaningful connections with teammates that will last forever. On the mound, I just wanted to see how successful I could be with the restricted pitch count my school had implemented. I definitely have matured as a pitcher from the experience I gained this summer, as I exceeded the expectations I placed for myself this year. Also, my parents [have] come to every home game so being able to see them has definitely helped me succeed as they are my biggest fans.
Ruiz: My goal coming into the season was always to learn something every day — whether that was my swing, fielding, preparation, etc. I believe I have exceeded the needs I was looking for this summer.
Valdez: The goal was to get better every day and to adjust to the better pitching, which I felt like I did. The main goal was to stay healthy and have a good season and I felt like I accomplished a good summer that I will forever remember.
5. What do you like to do when you’re not playing baseball? Do you have any hobbies?
Beitel: I enjoy meeting up with friends, doing activities outdoors and going to the gym. These are all things I can do while in Bellingham, as I’m very close to home, so my friends travel down to catch up over lunch. I’ve picked up some things I have started to enjoy while being in Bellingham, including wake surfing, golfing and [weight]lifting.
Ruiz: What I like to do in my free time is golf.
Valdez: I love to go to the gym because I am able to work on myself and better myself. However, being out here in Bellingham taught me how to appreciate nature and find fun in the wildlife.
6. What are your plans for after this summer season?
Beitel: I’m going back to the University of British Columbia to finish up my last year of school and get my bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability and urban studies while heading into my junior year of eligibility for baseball. I’m planning on starting a graduate degree to finish out my college baseball career the following year.
Ruiz: My plan after this summer is to go back to play for California State University at San Bernardino and to finish my degree in finance.
Valdez: [My] plans after the summer are to go into the fall season, preparing myself for the spring season. I plan on going back to my school with [the] knowledge I’ve gained out here and sharing it with all my teammates.
7. Had you ever visited Bellingham before joining the Bells? How has it been living here for the summer? What were your first impressions of the town?
Beitel: Growing up just north of the border I traveled south all the time for sports and vacations. Being in Bellingham during the summers is my favorite thing to do when I’m done playing summer baseball as it allows me to enjoy a little break before heading back to school. My host family has taken me around Bham to see the popular outdoor activities such as hikes, water sports and boating.
Ruiz: This was my first time ever being in Bellingham and I’ve enjoyed every second being here and being able to enjoy nature and enjoy the weather as it has been perfect.
Valdez: Living here this summer has been a lifelong memory. Playing baseball in front of the whole city [which] shows endless support will always be a memory. Bellingham has been a place that I will never forget.
