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By Karen Boehler
Pecos League writer
RATON � Folks in Raton have been disappointed in recent years with promises of big things that never materialized. In particular, a new racetrack and casino that was promised to replace the La Mesa racetrack, the state�s first racetrack, never came to town.
So Raton residents are justifiably a little leery about the move of the Osos from Ruidoso to Raton.
�The general feeling is there�s a little bit of skepticism, said Raton Parks and Recreation Director Jared Chatterly. �With a lot of things that have happened in Raton lately, there�s this big build up to big things that are going to happen and they don�t pan out.�
That aside, Chatterly said excitement about the Osos is growing, and he expects the team to be well supported once the players roll into town in early May.
�There�s a lot of support for baseball in the community. I think people are just kind of waiting to see if it will happen,� he said. �Things will start to roll and get exciting. People do know it can happen because they�ve seen Trinidad. They know of the Triggers. They see what was done over there. So once they start seeing players on the field and there�s more of a buzz, I think there will be an even greater sweep of excitement, and people will get behind it.�
The city is certainly behind the Pecos League team, with city-owned Gabrielle FIeld at Legion Park being the home of the Osos.
�It�s totally been redone as of a couple of years ago,� Charrerly said of the field. �People refer to it as the �million dollar field,� even though it didn�t cost that much, but it is a very nice facility. So we�re looking to showcase that as part of the Osos being in town. Because now the field isn;�t being used as much as we would like.�
Currently, the field is used by the Raton TIger high school team in spring, but for the rest of the year it doesn�t see much use.
�So we�re excited to have the Osos here to get more use out of that field and to show it off,� Chatterly said.
The city already has plans for a big Fourth of July celebration that will include a balloon rally, parade, fireworks show and baseball game � �Nothing is more American than fireworks and baseball and parades,� Chatterly said � and has other promotions in the mill.
Even those the Oso name was a transplant from Ruidoso, Chatterly said it fits well in Raton, where bears are known to roam the streets and bear proof dumpsters are the norm.
�Raton is notorious for having bear problems, so we�ve talked about referring to the concession stand as the �Dumpster,� he laughed. �People can get their grub out of the dumpster.�
Beer sales are definitely a plan for during games, along with whatever other activities will make it a fun experience for the fans.
�Just kind of try to make it a fun family atmosphere where everybody can come and watch a game. Bring some folks into town,� Chatterly said.
Osos manager Keith Essary has already been on the radio asking residents for help � everything from scorekeepers to announcers to host families � and Chatterly said he�s been getting a good response.
�From what I�m getting from that direction, there�s been a lot of people calling, coming here to the Department of Parks and Recreation saying, �Hey! I want to be involved in this Oso thing. It�s coming together.�
Chatterly said Raton is taking it�s cues from Trinidad, which went through their growth pangs in 2012, and while he expects a few bumps in the road, he expects things will smooth as as the season gets closer.
�I think once things start to happen, going from the experience Trinidad has had, and they�ve been there for a year and their sponsors have caught on, I see the same thing happening over here.�
And with Trinidad only 20 miles north of Raton, Las Vegas 110 miles south and Taos 90 miles west, Chatterly said bring on the rivalries.
�Absolutely. Whether it be Taos or Trinidad or Las Vegas, that�s what people want to see. People want to see the competition. And I think when there is rivalry, that shows that the community is really behind the team,� he said. �If there�s truly a rivalry, and the towns start talking smack with each other and start getting a little rowdy, then we know that things are going in a direction where hey! People are getting behind the teams. They�re taking pride in whether the team wins or loses and to me, the more rivalries the better.�
And, he said, while Oso fans will be behind their team every game, they�ll be especially enthusiastic when they face the Triggers.
�There�s some competition,� Chatterly said. �I can guarantee that Raton is going to want to beat Trinidad every time they play.�
The Osos will inaugurate Gabrielle Field when they open the season vs. Trinidad May 15.
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