Rawlins rivalry renewed

A Saratoga/Rawlins rivalry is starting up again.

No, it’s not like the Hatfields and McCoys this time, it’s coed softball to raise funds for a favorite cause in each municipality.

The Saratoga and Rawlins teams are set and ready to go—all they need are spectators and folks to cheer their home teams on.

Organizers TK Skraastad and Monte Thayer decided to do a fundraiser for Saratoga Safe Ride with the Saratoga game and came up with coed softball games.

The Rawlins coed team will be visiting Woods Field in Saratoga and the Saratoga team will be making a trip to Rawlins to play at the Rawlins Memorial Softball Complex.

Though the games are free to spectators, proceeds from sales of food and beverages, along with any donations, will go to Saratoga Safe Ride for the Saratoga Game and to Ribbons of Hope for the Rawlins game.

Skraastad said, “We were just sitting around and decided to do a fundraiser for the Safe Ride here and I got with Monte we decided to host one here and one there for Rawlins is a Ribbons of Hope fundraiser. We just kinda started kicking it off and it took about a month to finally actually get everything lined out.”

To which Thayer finished, “One thing led to another and before you know it we’re getting chalk and the field ready—chalk up the fields, kinda get the people to come out for something to do on a Wednesday night. Watch a softball game, drink beer or a soft drink and have some fun.”

The Saratoga game will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at Woods Field near the corner of Hugus and 3rd Streets in Saratoga. The Rawlins game will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, at the Rawlins Memorial Softball Complex at 1616 Harshman Street in Rawlins.

Saratoga Safe Ride will be providing transportation to the Rawlins game for both the team and those wishing to attend, gathering 6:15 p.m. at the Platte Valley Community Center Parking lot.