Written by Raptors Broadcaster Hunter Shumake
After their first road trip of the year, the Ridgefield Raptors now sit at 4-5 in the West Coast League and are tied fourth in the southern division with three other teams. Now the Raptors set their sights on a three game series with the Portland Pickles June 13th-15th. Before Portland, the Raptors enjoy an important rest day on Monday. Ridgefield played eleven straight games to start the 2023 season. For the remainder of the season, the team will typically play two WCL series a week and have Monday off.
The last series before the off day was in Walla Walla, where Ridgefield lost the series 1-2. Game one was tightly contested. In the bottom of the ninth, the Raps trailed by a run and they had the go ahead run on base. Ridgefield was unable to capitalize, losing game one 3-4. In game two, the Raptors played a solid game with well distributed offense, winning 6-3. The deciding third game was back and forth early, but Walla Walla took the advantage after three innings and Ridgefield dropped the final game 5-12.
In the series against Walla Walla, game two starter Dylan Stewart had a great second start of the year throwing 5 innings, giving up 3 hits and no earned runs. Offensively, Trent Prokes played in two games and laced two extra base hits and worked four walks.
Portland, led by head coach Mark Magdaleno, are coming off a lost series to Kelowna. The Pickles currently sit at 6-3 in the WCL. The offense for Portland is led by Jack Metcho. Metcho leads the team with sixteen hits and eleven runs batted in. Currently, Portland has the best batting average in the WCL with the team swinging at a .295 clip. The Pickles also find other ways to get on base. Portland leads the WCL in on-base percentage at .444.
The last time these two teams played was in the 2022 WCL Divisional Series where Ridgefield knocked Portland out of the postseason by winning the first two games of the three game set. The first pitch in Portland is scheduled for 6:35 PM on June 13th. For more information, visit ridgefieldraptors.com. #GoRaps