Former Whatcom County Players Find Their Way Home For Summer Baseball

BY MAKAYLA SPARKS – For Whatcom Preps

BELLINGHAM – When high school sporting events are paused for summer, one local team is just starting to gear up for its season.

The Bellingham Bells summer collegiate baseball team was established in 1999 after serving as a minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Seattle Mariners. The team plays in the heart of Bellingham at Joe Martin Stadium, a stadium rich in history including being the starting grounds of Ken Griffey Jr’s professional career and hosting the 1A and 2A baseball state tournaments.

This summer, Joe Martin served as the home base for seven former Whatcom County high schoolers, who’ve been give the opportunity to don a Bells jersey and represent their home county crowd once again.

These seven athletes include Marques Brown (Mount Baker Class of 2021), Bryce Johnson (Meridian Class of 2022), Eli Knowlton (Squalicum Class of 2023), Jacob Gillig (Sehome Class of 2023), Lane Simonsen (Lynden Class of 2024), Kieran Markusen (Blaine Class of 2024), and Braven Nason (Mount Baker Class of 2024). I got the chance to ask six of the guys about their road to Joe Martin and experience playing for the Bells and this is what they had to say.

How long have you been playing baseball in Whatcom County?

Brown: I’ve been playing baseball in Whatcom County for probably 12 years. I started with T-ball at the Deming Logging show when I was around six and then continued to pay in the county until I left for college ball when I was 18.

Johnson: I have been playing baseball in Whatcom County since I was three years old. I started playing T-ball across the street from Joe Martin Field and grew up playing for Bellingham and Whatcom County select teams. I also played for Cascade Crush from 11-17u and that was a big part of my baseball journey.

Knowlton: I have been playing baseball in Whatcom County since I was six years old.

Gillig: I have been playing baseball in Whatcom County since my freshman year.

Simonsen: I’ve been playing baseball in Whatcom County since I was six years old.

Markusen: I’ve been playing baseball since I was five years old and really started enjoying baseball once I was able to start pitching in games.

What’s your favorite memory of playing baseball in high school?

Brown: My favorite memory from high school baseball was definitely my senior year in 2021. Being able to to play with the guys again after COVID, it felt like such a privilege to represent Mount Baker one more time.

Johnson: My favorite memory of play baseball in high school was my senior year when we beat South Whidbey on a walkoff to go the the state tournament at Joe Martin.

Knowlton: I have two favorite memories. My favorite game I played was when I shut Lakewood my senior year with 16 strikeouts but my overall favorite memory was, at one of my practices with my teammates where we played 7×7 football.

Gillig: My favorite memory in high school baseball is walking the game off against Mount Baker.

Simonsen: My favorite memory of high school baseball was playing in back-to-back Final Four’s in Bellingham.

Markusen: My favorite memory was the bus rides home after wins with all my friends, listening to music on the speaker.

What did the process of landing a roster spot with the Bells look like?

Brown: To be honest, I got lucky with the roster spot. Last summer, I was training and coaching with the Cascade Baseball Club program when the previous Bells coach, Jim Clem, gave me a call and asked if I was available as they need a pitcher. I ended up throwing well and then at the end of the season I was offered a spot for the following season.

Johnson: The process of getting a spot on the Bells this summer had a lot to do with my college coach. He reached out to the Bells to see if they had a need for an outfielder and they did. I signed my contract as soon as it was given to me.

Knowlton: Going into my freshman year, my pitching coach texted me saying that there was an opportunity that he didn’t want me to miss and it was playing for the last two weeks with the Bells. This year I got asked by Hayden (Hastings), the assistant head coach with the Bells, if I wanted to play and I said I absolutely would love to.

Gillig: Getting a spot on the Bells involved my coach at Edmonds (Community College) asking me if I wanted to play with Bells for the rest of the season.

Simonsen: I worked with the University of Washington to find a place for me and they had a great connection with the Bells. So it made the opportunity possible.

Markusen: My process of landing on the Bells was I received a text from Bells pitcher, Lane Simonsen, asking for my phone number, saying the Bells needed an extra pitcher and said they were interested in me. I talked on the phone with the general manger, Stephanie (Morrell), as well as the pitching coach, Steve Ward, and then I was officially a Bell.

What has been your favorite part of playing with the Bells?

Brown: My favorite part of playing with the Bells has to be the community/fan interactions. It’s been an absolute blast to talk to people of all ages that support us, I was once one of the kids asking the bullpen for baseballs, and now I get to talk to kids in the same position I once was in.

Johnson: My favorite part of playing for the Bells was fulfilling my dream I’ve had since I was around eight years old. I grew up going to Bells’ games my entire life. I was a bat kid for years for the Bells. I would wait outside the gates for the players to leave the field to get my ball signed. I remember going to countless Bells camps when I was younger. Getting to be the player on the other side of it all has been amazing.

Knowlton: My favorite part of playing for the Bells is the team because they are a very special and fun group to be around. They make every day a joy to show up and compete with them.

Gillig: My favorite part of playing with the Bells is meeting new guys from all over.

Simonsen: My favorite part of playing for the Bells has been the travel and meeting and playing against guys older than me.

Markusen: My favorite part so far has been getting to know the older pitchers on the team and talking with them about what their day-to-day looks like as a college pitcher and just how to make it on and off the field as a college athlete.

What’s your on-field highlight of the season?

Brown: I’ve had the best view in the house for a lot of cool moments watching from the dugout, Roman’s (Martin) walk off grand slam is something I’ll never forget. My favorite pitching moment has to be coming in with runners in scoring position and getting out of the inning with the zero still in tact. I’ve done it a few times this summer and it always feels good to pick up a teammate like that.

Johnson: My on-field highlight of the season so far was scoring the winning run on the walkoff opening night against Edmonton. It was first time in a Bells uniform and was crazy to be able to experience such a memorable moment in my first game.

Knowlton: My on-field highlight is against Richfield at the start of the year. I got myself in a jam by walking a couple of guys and I got out of it by striking three guys out.

Gillig: My favorite on-field part of playing with the Bells is being able to pitch in front of a big crowd.

Simonsen: My highlight of the season has just been having a new role, being out of the bullpen.

Markusen: My on-field highlight is my first outing against Victoria at Joe Martin in front of all the local fans.