RIDGEFIELD — The key to Luke Iverson’s success this summer is keeping things simple.
Iverson joined the Ridgefield Raptors after completing his sophomore season at Utah Valley. The catcher/outfielder from St. George, Utah, was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference second team after hitting .275 with four home runs and 33 RBI in 38 games.
In Iverson’s mind, it was a good, not great campaign. He set an attainable goal for the summer to get back to basics.
“My goal coming in was just to play really relaxed baseball (and) loose baseball,” Iverson said. “At Utah Valley, I put up some good numbers but I was a little bit tight. Coming into this summer, my goal was actually to focus a little bit less on numbers, because I was getting in my head a little bit thinking about numbers.
“Really, my goal coming in was focused on why I play the game — because I love it and because it’s fun. I’ve definitely been able to see that throughout this season so far and definitely see that goal being accomplished.”
That mindset has allowed Iverson to thrive as one of the Raptors’ most reliable and consistent players. Iverson and Raptors pitcher Dylan Stewart (Pepperdine) were selected to the West Coast League All-Star Game, which will be played Wednesday at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham. The WCL brought back the All-Star Game this year for the first time since 2019.
“I think they’re both deserving,” Ridgefield head coach Chris Cota. “Dylan has been great all summer pitching. Iverson’s been a guy that’s played multiple positions (and) been good. Very deserving (for) both of those guys.”
The two are part of the WCL South Division team, however, because Stewart is unable to participate in the game, Ridgefield pitcher Curtis Hebert (University of Portland) has been selected as a replacement.
Stewart, from Alameda, Calif., and Hebert, from Anchorage, Alaska, have pitched a combined 47 innings in eight starts to lead the Raptors, with Stewart’s 1.45 ERA leading all Ridgefield starters. Both pitchers were also part of the Raptors’ first no-hitter in team history June 11.
While pitching carried Ridgefield in the early going this season, the Raptors’ offense has picked up in recent weeks during its current nine-game winning streak, though Iverson has been a bright spot from the start. Appearing in 33 of 35 WCL games so far, Iverson leads the Raptors with eight doubles, two home runs, 22 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
The multi-tool player has a rare skill set that intrigued the team going into the season. In addition to playing 110 innings and counting as a catcher, his main position, Iverson also has a perfect fielding percentage as an outfielder.
“I (attribute) a lot of it to these boys right here — I think these guys have really helped me to fulfill my goal of playing loose (and) playing relaxed,” Iverson said. “That was an incredible honor and incredible opportunity.”
Iverson and Hebert will travel to Bellingham this week to play for the South team led by Corvallis Knights manager Brooke Knight. All 16 WCL teams will have at least one player represented in the game, scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch Wednesday. The game will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB App.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things about the event,” Iverson said. “So, I’m excited, especially playing some other boys from some other teams. That’s my favorite part, is getting to know the guys, and just playing with the best of the best. It’s pretty exciting.”
Second-half swings
Nothing explains Ridgefield’s hot start to the season’s second half than its suddenly surging offense.
The Raptors offense was ice cold when it finished the first half July 4 with a 2-1 loss to Corvallis. Ridgefield’s .229 average ranked next to last in the league as the Raptors notched a 10-16 record.
Since then, no team has been hotter. Ridgefield is batting .315 and averaging 8.3 runs a game in its current nine-game win streak.
Over that span, Ridgefield has twice posted a single-game season-high with 16 hits and scored a season-high 16 runs in a July 7 win over Cowlitz.
At 9-0, Ridgefield leads the South Division second-half standings by a half game over Portland (9-1).
The Raptors are well in the hunt for a postseason berth. Ridgefield could reach the playoffs by winning the second half outright or by finishing second to first-half winner Corvallis.
Ridgefield could also grab one of two wild card berths — those go to the South Division teams that finish with the best full-season records and are not first- or second-half champions.
At 19-16, Ridgefield has the fourth best overall record in the South Division.
Makeup game
The Raptors resume their WCL schedule on Thursday with a road game against the Portland Pickles. This is a makeup of the June 2 game that was rained out.
Though the original game was in the first half of the season, Thursday’s makeup will count toward the second-half standings.
The Raptors then kick off a three-game home series Friday against the Victoria HarbourCats. Seven-time defending league champ Corvallis visits Ridgefield July 23 and 25 with a game in Corvallis on July 24.
Micah Rice, The Columbian’s Sports Editor, contributed to this report.
