OGDEN RAPTORS VS OREM OWLS

The Ogden Raptors bat
against the Orem Owlz

For the final night of our trip, we found ourselves in Ogden, Utah to see the Ogden Raptors host the Orem Owlz. This completed our circuit of the Pioneer League. It was our only opportunity to see the Raptors play while it was our fourth time seeing the Owlz.

Ogden is the biggest draw in the league having led the Pioneer League in attendance since they moved into Lindquist Field in 1997. It offers views of downtown Ogden and panoramic vistas of the Wasatch Mountains even nicer than those in Orem. One of the teams co-owners is also the P.A. announcer at the ballpark.

If this isn't a company car, the
Raptors have a SERIOUS fan

The game was decided in the bottom of the inning. With the Raptors already leading 3-2, they led of the bottom of the fourth with a homer, extending the lead to 4-2. After the next three batters singled to load the bases and the pitcher threw ball one to the following batter, the Owlz' manager had seen enough. He brought in a new pitcher whose first offering was bombed well over the left-centerfield fence for a grand slam and an 8-2 lead. The Owlz battled back to make a tight game of it and some hard rain fell during the last couple of innings but the Raptors won it by a final score of 8-6.

The entrance to Lindquist Field,
home of the Ogden Raptors

My impressions of the ballpark are generally favorable. The safety netting is limited so there's no shortage of seats with unobstructed views. They even had some seating beyond the leftfield fence where most minor league parks lack outfield seating. Parking around the ballpark was plentiful and free. The concession stands had a good variety of ballpark chow at reasonable prices.

My biggest complaint is with their second rate souvenir stand. The prices were excessive and the selection of merchandise was poor compared to the other teams in the Pioneer League. A team cap cost $5.00-$6.00 dollars more than the other teams charge for theirs. It was $5 for a program where the other teams charged $2.00 or $3.00.

The vastly underutilized
logo on the Raptors' caps

You would think with a dinosaur mascot, they'd have a wide variety of colorful shirts and caps featuring it but this wasn't the case. They had overpriced, bland merchandise with very little of it featuring the velociraptor. Who wants a grey sweatshirt with "RAPTORS BASEBALL" in block lettering? Especially at the prices they charge. At the very least they should have shirts featuring the clever logo on their caps. Get a clue, folks. Open a team store and design some distinctive merchandise. Look at what your competitors in Casper are doing.

My other complaint (a minor one) is that their mascot, Oggie, was nearly invisible for the entire game. He popped out on the field for one of the contests and strolled out by the stands on the first base side once and that was all we saw of him. We took a couple of laps around the park looking for him but he was nowhere to be found. As you can see in the slideshow over to the right, I was able to take a photo of the Supreme Commander with every Pioneer League mascot except Ogden's. It's not such a big deal but it would have nice to complete the collection.

The fans are out early to get their tickets for tonight's game

The Raptors warm up prior to the game

We arrived early so the stands were mostly empty when we entered

The Wastch Mountains provide a scenic background

Lindquist Field's view beyond the stadium is considered by many the best in pro ball

This scoreboard will be replaced within a few weeks

The replacement scoreboard is in crates on the deck behind left-centerfield

It's odd that the fence juts inward in right-centerfield

The Raptors have no problem selling ad space in Lindquist Field

The view out to centerfield with Ogden and the Wasatch Mountains in the background

Looking down at the park's entrance from the top of the grandstand

I wonder what's behind the rightfield fence that they had to build around

The clouds rolled in and it would eventually rain on this game

Burgers and foot-long hot dogs. Woo hoo!

A peek along the leftfield fence and warning track

A closer look at the peculiar rightfield fence. There are trees behind it.

The game is underway

As the uniform style might suggest, the Raptors are affiliated with the Dodgers

The catcher had to talk somethings over with his pitcher

The advice didn't help

A run for the Orem Owlz

The Owlz are affiliated with the Anaheim Angels

A pick-off attempt

The Orem Owlz warm up between innings

The Owlz jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but it didn't hold up

Oggie the velociraptor particpates in the race around the bases

We didn't get a photo of Oggie with Shannon - he never came into the stands

SAFE!

The Owlz had trouble keeping the Raptors off the bases

A new pitcher warms up

The sun broke through, shining on downtown Ogden and the Mountains

The sunshine provides a stunning vista

It reamins cloudy overhead but the sun lights up the Wasatch Mountains