The Washington Huskies and Portland Pilots, two proud baseball programs, will play each other in Clark County on April 21 as the Ridgefield Raptors and Northwest Baseball Coaches Association present the NWBCA College Classic at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
Two Division I college baseball programs from the Northwest will clash on a field in Clark County later this month.
The Washington Huskies.
The Portland Pilots.
The Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
Yes, the Huskies and Pilots are coming to Ridgefield.
The Ridgefield Raptors and the Northwest Baseball Coaches Association are proud to present the NWBCA College Classic, set 6:05 p.m. April 21 at the RORC.
“We are excited about bringing something to this growing community that they already love in the summer — college baseball,” said Gus Farah, general manager of the Raptors.
The Raptors play in the West Coast League, a wood bat summer league for college baseball players.
In a few weeks, college baseball programs will take over the RORC for a night.
“It allows these teams to show off to prospective players and families in Southwest Washington,” Farah said. “It’s a big deal for us.”
Both head coaches say they appreciate this opportunity.
“We are so excited to bring the Huskies to Southwest Washington,” said Washington coach Eddie Smith. “At the University of Washington, our goal is to acquire the best players in Washington to be on our roster. Playing in a different region of the state brings visibility for our program to alumni and prospects that wouldn’t otherwise be there.”
The Pilots are closer to Ridgefield than the Huskies, which has benefitted the program for years.
“It’s good exposure to UP baseball and the University of Portland, a great university in Southwest Washington’s backyard,” Portland coach Geoff Loomis said.
“More than than, Southwest Washington has been the hometown of so many great Pilot baseball players. I’d say with a lot of confidence that Southwest Washington has produced more Portland Pilot baseball players than any other area in the Pacific Northwest. So many great players. It’s important to me on many levels.”
The Raptors have given out two free tickets to season ticket holders and their host families. Also, high school and youth baseball and softball players, wearing their jerseys, will be admitted for free.
For others, tickets are $13 each, $12 for the ticket plus a $1 processing fee. All seats are general admission. Tickets can be purchased at: https://ridgefieldraptors.com/nwbca-college-classic/
Farah said this could be the start of something special in Ridgefield.
“We’d like to bring a college game every year if we can,” Farah said.
Smith grew up in Olympia and starred at Centralia College before playing at Notre Dame. He also coached Lower Columbia College to a Northwest championship in 2015. He was hired as the Huskies coach soon after the 2024 college season.
“On a personal level, Southwest Washington is home,” Smith said. “It is a region that has meant so much to me, and I can’t wait to bring our team to this part of the state.”
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