The Cowlitz Black Bears have one more homestand left in 2024 and you won’t want to miss it! The Black Bears will host the Ridgefield Raptors this weekend, Fri. July 26 – Sun. July 28 at David Story Field.
The Black Bears dropped the first two games earlier this week in their road series against the Bend Elks. The Black Bears fell on Tuesday night, 6-5, in ten innings on a walk-off single. The offense came in spurts for both teams on Wednesday night in the Black Bears’ 6-3 loss to the Elks. The Elks took a 5-0 lead after the second inning with a four-run inning and added another in the fourth to make it 6-0. The Black Bears had their chances to cut into the lead; leaving multiple runners on base from the second to the sixth innings. Jonathan Mendez (UC Santa Barbara) drove in the first run for the Black Bears with two outs in the top of the fifth. In the ensuing inning, Sam Canton (North Dakota St.) and Bronson Neave (Arizona Western) had RBI singles to cut it to 6-3 Elks. Neither team would score after the sixth inning. The game ended with the Black Bears having runners on first and second with the tying run at the plate.
The Raptors come into this series as the hottest team in the West Coast League. Before losing their first two games against Corvallis, Ridgefield won thirteen games in a row and led the WCL South in the Second Half. The Raptors swept their series against the Black Bears, Sweets, Drifters, and the HarbourCats. The Raptors lead the Columbia River Cup 3-1 in 2024. The Raptors swept the Black Bears in Ridgefield earlier this month at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex. The Black Bears won an exhibition meeting 4-1, back on May 30, in Ridgefield. The Raptors won the 2023 season series 4-3.
The Raptors-Black Bears series will begin on Friday at 6:35 p.m. at David Story Field. Game 2 on Saturday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., and the series finale will also begin at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about upcoming games, stats, or tickets, follow us on social media: X (Twitter) (@CowlitzBBears), Facebook, and Instagram (@cowlitzblackbears). To watch, listen live, or view the 2024 promotional schedule, go to our website cowlitzblackbears.com.