Written by Raptors broadcaster Patrick McColl
The Ridgefield Raptors start their fifth season in the West Coast League on May 30 when the Cowlitz Black Bears visit for an evening game at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreational Complex (RORC).
Marked “the friendliest rivalry in baseball,” the matchup will spark another round of The Columbia River Cup. The cup will be won by the team that wins the most games in the best of seven season series, and the Raps have won the cup the last two years.
After facing Cowlitz, Ridgefield will travel down I-5 to play the Portland Pickles in the first road series of the season. Portland ended Ridgefield’s 2023 season with a 10-6 comeback win on August 9 in the West Coast League Divisional Series.
Ridgefield returns its two longest standing members. Head coach Chris Cota and assistant coach Nick Allen will be back in the dugout to lead Ridgefield for the fifth consecutive season, continuing their runs of coaching in each season in Raptors history.
Ridgefield’s home opener against Cowlitz is scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at the RORC. The Raps will play the Pickles at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday under the lights of Walker Stadium. A 6:05 p.m. start is in place for the Sunday finale on June 2.
Tickets to the home opener against Cowlitz are available on ridgefieldraptors.com. The live stream to watch or listen to the games will be available on ridgefieldraptors.com/stream. #GoRaps