Written by Raptors Broadcaster Patrick McColl
Just as the temperatures have warmed up in the Pacific Northwest, the Ridgefield Raptors are heating up as the gates of the West Coast League’s (WCL) second half open. With three series wins and a 9-0 record in the second half, the Raptors step out of league action to face the Redmond Dudes in a solo game on Tuesday night. After the All-Star break, the Raptors will head to Walker Stadium to play the Pickles on Thursday.
With a 6-4 win on Sunday, Ridgefield finished a sweep of the Springfield Drifters. The ‘Raps also swept the Cowlitz Black Bears and Walla Walla Sweets at home, giving in this half of the season. All wins have helped the Raptors maintain a hold on first place in the South Division.
Ridgefield’s (19-16) Colby Wallace has hit the ball well recently for the ‘Raps. The 6-foot-4 outfielder notched eight hits in the Springfield series and slashed a double, triple and three RBI against the Drifters. On the mound, Portland’s Logan Anderson and Linfield’s Camden Oram took the Raptors far in Game 1 of the series. The duo pitched the last seven innings of a 13-inning victory and allowed only one run to the Drifters.
Redmond will play its final game against WCL competition this season when the Dudes take the field on Tuesday. The Dudes (2-5) won their first two games in their WCL slate, taking down the Lefties on May 29 and May 30. Since then, Redmond has lost five straight, and last played on June 25 against the Victoria Harbourcats.
On Wednesday, the WCL will host its first All-Star Game since 2019. Starter Dylan Stewart, two-way player Curtis Hebert and Utah Valley’s Luke Iverson will represent the ‘Raps on the South Division’s team in Bellingham.
Portland does not sit far behind Ridgefield in the second half standings, compiling a record of 9-1 in the South. The Pickles have won four of their five games against the Raptors this season. The Raptors rival has scored 228 times this season, a number that ranks second in the WCL. On the other side of the diamond, Portland is third in the WCL in ERA (2.74).
The Raptors contest against the Redmond Dudes is scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m. at the RORC on Tuesday. Wednesday’s All-Star Game will start at 6:35 p.m. at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham and will air on MLB Network. Ridgefield’s makeup game in Portland is set for 7:15 p.m.
Tickets to the home game against Redmond at the RORC are available on ridgefieldraptors.com. The live stream to watch or listen to the games this week will be available on ridgefieldraptors.com/stream. #GoRaps