Ridgefield battling for playoff position in final weeks of regular season

By way of the schedule, the Ridgefield Raptors have six more home games this season.

They want more, though.

The postseason push is on for the Raptors, with a big series on tap this week against Bend, and then a mad rush toward the end of the regular season.

The Raptors return to the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex on Monday night for a non-league game against the Redmond Dudes, a team based in the Seattle area.

Then the Raptors will host Bend in a three-game series beginning on Tuesday. Ridgefield is in third place in the South Division of the West Coast League in the overall standings, combining the first and second halves of the season. Bend is in fourth place. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs.

The Raptors will then hit the road for six WCL games, three in Springfield and three more in Walla Walla, before a split home-away series against the Corvallis Knights to wrap up the regular season. The Raptors will be home against Corvallis on Aug. 5 and Aug. 7.

Should the Raptors make the playoffs, they’ll be assured of at least another home game.

“It’s the last few chances to see them,” said Gus Farah, the team’s general manager. “Root ‘em on and give them the energy to get into the playoffs.”

Oh, and if the playoffs do happen for the Raptors, their season ticket holders won’t have to worry about buying tickets. Playoff tickets are part of the benefits of having season tickets. 

“We’re just trying to make it as easy as we can,” Farah said. “We want them to enjoy it, and we want the energy in the park.”

So far, there has been plenty of buzz at the RORC. Farah said attendance is up from last year. Plus, the team has its best record in its short history through July 25. 

Nobody is playing better in the West Coast League than the Raptors’ Trent Prokes. He was just named the WCL’s player of the week after batting .522 with four doubles. Prokes is leading the league in average, as well.

Again, the Raptors have a non-league home game Monday against the Dudes. But Tuesday, it’s back to league play with a crucial series against Bend.

Tuesday also is Cowlitz Indian Tribe night. General admission tickets on Tuesday are $3, too. On Thursday, there is the C-Tran downtown tailgate before the game. And there will be a bobblehead giveaway for the first 500 fans in the stadium.

For ticket information, go to: https://ridgefieldraptors.com/.