Raptors baseball flying after a year of being grounded

RIDGEFIELD — A new season. A new trophy. A newfound appreciation.

The Ridgefield Raptors’ season-opener Wednesday didn’t just signal a return of West Coast League collegiate wood bat baseball after a cancelled 2020 season.

The Raptors and the Cowlitz Black Bears, their rivals from Longview, unveiled a new prize. The winner of this summer’s seven-game series between the teams will take ownership of the Columbia River Cup.

Cowlitz took a 1-0 lead in the rivalry with a wild 10-8 win at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. The Black Bears rallied with seven runs in the top of the eighth, erasing an 8-3 deficit.

After most colleges either had their spring seasons shortened or cancelled altogether, the Raptors were just happy to be playing in front of a crowd of about 800 on Wednesday.

Dominic Enbody, one of two returners from Ridgefield’s 2019 team, knows the value of this summer’s season. The catcher saw his spring season cut to just 24 games at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, Calif.

“These extra summer games for me are huge,” Enbody said. “A big part of my baseball career is here, as are some of my favorite memories. Hopefully a lot more will come this summer.”

Enbody hopes his teammates soak in this summer’s experience.

“Just relax,” Enbody said. “Guys know there are a lot of really good players here, so they tend to press. But I hope they enjoy all their moments here. Everyone is going to have success. Everyone is going to have failure.”

Wednesday’s loss won’t count in the WCL standings. The Raptors start league play on Friday when they open a three-game home series against Bend.

Three moments

Bash Bear — Jayce Bailey’s two-run home run ignited Cowlitz’s seven-run eighth inning. The outfielder from Boise State cut Ridgefield’s lead to 8-5 with a deep fly onto the berm behind the right field fence. Five of the next six batters reached base, a sequence that included a hit batter, an error and two walks.

Walk this way — Ridgefield took a 6-2 lead with four runs in the third inning. The inning started with four consecutive walks, followed by one-out singles by Trevor Torpa and Tanner Jacques.

A foul taste — An odd sequence had the Black Bears thinking they scored two runs in the top of the second, but they ended up with none.

With two on, Matthew Schwarz hit a high chopper to third. But the Cowlitz hitter didn’t run, claiming he had fouled it off his foot.

But Ridgefield’s throw to first was wild. Schwarz eventually ran and ended on second base while two runners scored.

After Ridgefield coach Chris Cota protested, the umpires huddled and ruled the play a foul ball. That led Cowlitz coach Brian Burres to argue that his hitter hadn’t fouled the ball of his foot and didn’t mean to not run to first.

Schwarz then grounded into a double play, ending the inning and preserving Ridgefield’s 2-1 lead.

Three players

Caden Connor — Ridgefield’s right fielder did exactly what a leadoff hitter is supposed to — get on base. The Cal State Fullerton player went 3 for 5, scoring in the first inning and knocking a double in the second.

Nick Nygard — The Columbia River graduate was excellent in relief for Ridgefield. The University of Portland pitcher struck out the side in the ninth.

Kelly Austin — The Cowlitz hitter both started and concluded the Black Bears’ seven-run rally in the eighth inning. He led off the inning with a single, then put Cowlitz ahead 10-8 with a two-run double with two outs.

Three numbers

661 — The number of days since the Raptors had previously played a game. Wednesday’s crowd was close to the 50-percent maximum capacity allowed to start the season. Raptors general manager Gus Farah said about 800 fans were in attendance.

11 and 5 — The number of batters Cowlitz sent to the plate in the eighth inning, along with the number of hits they used to plate seven runs.

8 — The number of consecutive balls that started Ridgefield’s four-run third inning. The Raptors drew four consecutive walks to start the inning, eventually scoring four runs to take a 6-2 lead.

COWLITZ 10, RIDGEFIELD 8

Cowlitz 101 010 070—10 12 0

Ridgefield 204 011 000— 8 8 1

Cowlitz

Pitching — Mark Woinarowicz 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 3 BB; Jacob Trupp 0 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB; Dale Takalo 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB; Jake Dent 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB; Michael Benz 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 0 BB, W; James Bradwell 2 IP, 0 H, 4 K, 0 BB. Highlights — Matthew Schwarz 2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B; Sean Mulcare 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR; Cary Arbolita 1-4, RBI; Kelly Austin 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B; Henry Muench 2-3, R.

Ridgefield

Pitching — Ryan Pitts 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 2 BB; Ben Larson 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB; Jacob Fried 2 I, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB, Andrew Troppmann 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K; Jett Lodes 1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 1 K, 2 BB; Nick Nygard 1 IP, 0 H, 3 K. Highlights — Caden Connor 3-5, R, RBI, 2B; Dominic Enbody 1-4, R, RBI; Tafton Hensley 2-4, R, 2 RBI; Trevor Torpa 2-4, R, RBI; Tanner Jacques 1-4, 2 RBI.