RIDGEFIELD — A constant shuffling of pitchers and catchers on summer collegiate baseball teams often leaves little time to develop trust and chemistry between battery mates.
Yet for Ridgefield Raptors starting pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno and catcher Richard Tejeda, two players who hadn’t appeared in the same lineup this season before Friday, their instant connection went a long way in the Raptors’ 10-5 win over the Victoria HarbourCats at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
Magdaleno was masterful in six scoreless innings to earn his third win of the season. His 11 strikeouts set a season high for the Raptors with two hits and two walks allowed. Tejeda served as the perfect outlet behind the plate, while swinging a strong bat in the order with a 3-for-5 outing and three RBI.
“Me and Richard, we clicked today,” Magdaleno added. “Richard is a good guy, we have a good connection, so, yeah, I just trusted him, trusted my pitches and the players behind me. … I’m blessed to have this team behind me with all the defensive players. We’re just rolling right now. Everybody has good chemistry, the energy is up and we’re just going to keep it going.”
Good things came in 11s Friday, because, in addition to Magdaleno’s 11 strikeouts, the Raptors won their 11th consecutive West Coast League game to tie a franchise record set during the 2023 season.
Buoyed by a strong performance on the mound through six innings, the Raptors (21-16) had some breathing room despite a slow start offensively.
Holding on to a 3-2 lead midway through the seventh inning after the HarbourCats (18-19) scored a pair of runs on a Tyrus Hall, the Raptors blew the game open with seven runs in the bottom half.
The Raptors hit around the lineup against Victoria pitchers Nick Frers, Jake Finkelstein and Willem Heilker with RBI base hits from Tejeda, Jack Salmon, Taylor Takata and Hunter Katschke, plus a bases-loaded walk earned by Justin Stransky, who also combined with Tejeda for back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth inning.
When the damage was done, the Raptors held a commanding 10-2 lead.
“Oh man, that feeling is like nothing else. That’s the feeling you live for,” Tejeda said. “Hats off to our pitchers — Mags pitched his butt off today and it was just beautiful. Me and Stransky cracked it open and the rest of the lineup took care of it, so it was awesome.”
Although the HarbourCats got three runs back in the top of the ninth, it wasn’t enough to undo an inconsistent night at the plate against Magdaleno followed by relievers Dylan Richardson, Camden Oram, Damian Pantoya and Joseph Jasso.
Magdaleno put together a trio of 1-2-3 innings, and during one stretch, retired 12 of 13 batters faced from the third through sixth innings. His off-speed pitches were particularly effective, which he and Tejeda sensed in pre-game warmups.
“We knew what was going to feel good, even from bullpen, I knew that my off-speed was going to be working today, so me and (Richard), we kind of game-planned to attack hitters with every pitch,” Magdaleno said. “I just had confidence in Richard, just getting the balls in the dirt when I needed to and just attacking the hitter, knowing that Richard had my back.”
“All pitches working today, (he) was able to locate any count and any spot,” Tejeda added. “Today we threw a 3-1 change-up, which is the first time I’ve ever called that in my career, and he was locating it perfectly. He was just on one today.”
Ridgefield and Victoria will play game two of the series on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Three moments
Making up for miscues – Victoria loaded the bases in the second on a Cam Schneider ground-rule double and two walks issued by Ridgefield starting pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno. To escape the jam, Magdaleno got Victoria’s Josh Cunnigan to swing at three straight pitches for strikeout to end the frame, stranding three HarbourCats baserunners.
Two-out rally – Ridgefield did all of its damage in the fifth inning with two outs after Dasan Harris was caught stealing second base and Taylor Takata flew out. The Raptors loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a Hunter Katschke single against Victoria reliever Nick Frers, setting up designated hitter Justin Stransky for a two-run, line-drive single. Richard Tejeda then followed with an RBI base hit and the Raptors took a 3-0 lead.
Gut-check time – Following Magdaleno’s exit after six innings, the HarbourCats scored a pair of runs on a Tyrus Hall double off reliever Dylan Richardson. After Hall stole third base and Richardson hit a Victoria batter, the Raptors signaled to their bullpen for Camden Oram.
The right-handed pitcher stood tall with the Raptors clinging to a 3-2 lead and one out. He struck out the first batter faced and forced the next to ground out to finish off the frame.
Three players
Justin Stransky – One night after hitting a two-run home against the Portland Pickles, the designated hitter from Fresno State opened the Raptors’ scoring with an RBI single in the fifth. Stransky finished with three RBI and one run scored.
Isaiah Magdaleno – The Hawai’i product posted 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings while giving up just two hits.
Julian Nunez – Batting second, the Pepperdine product went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI.
Three numbers
11 – Consecutive WCL wins for the Raptors to tie a franchise record first set during the 2023 season.
0.42 – Isaiah Magdaleno’s earned-run average in 21 innings pitched this season, the best mark among Ridgefield starting pitchers.
.363 – Hunter Katschke’s batting average, which climbed to the top mark in the WCL among qualified players after going 2-for-5 Friday.
BOXSCORE: RIDGEFIELD 10, VICTORIA 5
