Ridgefield returns home on 10-game winning streak

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The Ridgefield Raptors are giving away money and raising money this week, and they have been banking a lot of Ws.

The Raptors have stormed to the top of the South Division standings in the West Coast League with a franchise-record 10 wins in a row. 

The first-place Raptors look to make it 11 on Tuesday with the opening of a three-game series against Bend at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.

And a bunch of children are guaranteed to win on Tuesday.

Later in the week, First Responders will be honored, and there will be a fundraiser for Kindness 911.

Children ages 6 to 12 will have a chance to go out on the field and track down money on Tuesday. Yep, cash money. Bills will be spread throughout the field, totalling $2,000, and the children get to keep whatever they can grab.

First pitch for Tuesday’s Dash for Cash game is 6:35 p.m., and the Dash promotion will happen some time during a break in the game action, in between an inning.

Also, that game is $3 Tuesday. General admission game tickets are $3, and so are hot dogs, nachos, and some drinks.

On Thursday, players will be wearing special jerseys that include the patches of all Southwest Washington departments of police, firefighters, and EMTs to celebrate First Responders. Those jerseys will be auctioned off during the game, as well, and the winners of the auction will get their jerseys after the game. The money raised will go to Kindness 911, a nonprofit connecting local law enforcement agencies with those they directly serve. “Impacting communities one kind act at a time,” is the charity’s mission.

Last year, this event raised thousands of dollars to Kindness 911.

The promotions are enticing but even without them, Southwest Washington would have a winner to support at the RORC. The Raptors have won 10 in a row.

Jackson Nicklaus went 3 for 5 on Sunday in Ridgefield’s 10th win of the streak. Charlie Royle threw five innings, did not give up an earned run, and recorded the win.

On Saturday, Jake Tsukada went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs. Tristan Gomes also went 3 for 4, including a home run.

The Raptors opened the series in Bend with a 3-1 victory over the Elks on Friday. Tsukada went 3 for 5 and Andy Allanson drove in two runs. Dylan Stewart threw five scoreless innings to pick up the win.

Tsukada went 8 for 14 in the Bend series. He is hitting .377 on the year, and he is second in the West Coast League in hits. 

Before the win streak, the Raptors sat two games below .500 in WCL play. They come into this week’s series at 14-6, a two-game lead over Corvallis in the South Division. 

The Raptors homestand is a short one this time around, with just three games. They will hit the road for the first weekend in July. But mark your calendars for the rest of that month. The Raptors will be home the rest of the July weekends.