Written by Raptors Broadcaster Patrick McColl

The Ridgefield Raptors are at the center of West Coast League (WCL) discussions as they’ve rode a winning streak to a 9-0 record in the second half. During the win streak, the Raptors have won six games at home and hope to keep the home field advantage this weekend as they welcome in the Victoria Harbourcats for a three-game series.

In front of fans at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex (RORC), the ‘Raps swept the Cowlitz Black Bears and Walla Walla Sweets to open the second half. Before the series against the ‘Cats, Ridgefield will put its half-game lead in the South Division to the test on Thursday night at Walker Stadium for a solo game against the Portland Pickles.

Ridgefield’s offense has averaged 8.3 runs per game in the second half of the season. Utah Valley’s Luke Iverson leads the ‘Raps in hits (37). Hawaii’s Taylor Takata has scored a team best 26 times while Utah Tech’s Hunter Katschke has slugged seven doubles this year, second to Iverson (eight) who leads the team.

The Raptors pitching staff recently added Connor Abadie (San Diego State), Joseph Jasso (College of the Canyons) and Blake Hammond (Northwest Nazarene). So far, none of the three pitchers have given up a run in a combined 11.2 innings.

Victoria (18-18) is the second Canadian team to travel to Ridgefield this season. The Raptors played the Edmonton Riverhawks from June 3 to June 5 and lost two out of three. The ‘Cats enter Friday’s game against Ridgefield having won two out of three against Edmonton in their most recent series.

Offensively, Victoria owns the third best batting average in the WCL (.262). On the hill, the team’s ERA is 4.58, seventh in the league. The Harbourcats sent outfielder and second baseman Tate Shimao (Hawaii) and right-handed pitcher Carson Cormier (TCU) to the All-Star Game in Bellingham. Shimao has hit .360 in 19 games, adding a team high 20 RBI and five doubles to stat line. Cormier has earned a 2.25 ERA in nine appearances and has struck out 21 hitters in 12 innings of work this season.

The first two games of the series against Victoria will start at 6:35 p.m. Sunday’s matinee is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Tickets to the home series against Victoria at the RORC are available on ridgefieldraptors.com. The live stream to watch or listen to the games will be available on ridgefieldraptors.com/stream. #GoRaps