Ottawa Raptors

⚾️🧢RAPTORS COACH SPOTLIGHT — COACH MATT JARBOE ⚾️🧢

Coach Matt Jarboe has been passionate about baseball since he was a young child, continuing his playing career through college at Ottawa University, where he had the opportunity to play alongside Jason. His lifelong love of the game naturally led him into coaching, and he has now spent the past 5 years helping young athletes develop their skills, confidence, and love for baseball.

This season marks Coach Jarboe's second year with the Raptors coaching staff. He is committed to creating a positive, competitive environment where players can grow both on and off the field.

Matt lives in Ottawa with his wife and their two children, Elijah and Adalyn. When he's not at the ballpark or cheering on his kids at their activities, he enjoys playing golf and exploring America's National Parks with his family.

Love to hear from you!!!

What makes up a great coach?
Give us examples, tell us why it works.
Jason Beers Amanda Lynn Beers
Ottawa Raptors

Let’s go, ladies!!! 💙🩵

Thanks for putting on a better game than the Royals gave us tonight! 😅

Raptors Vogeler is moving on in Midnight Madness after an incredible walk-off hit to seal the win! What a way to finish! 🔥

Abi Wilson smoke one to Right field for a walk off.
Keep rolling, ladies! 🦖🥎
Eric Vogeler Ottawa Raptors

🚨 NEW COACH ALERT! 🚨

Please help us welcome Coach Craig Venters to the Ottawa Raptors family! 💙🩵

Craig grew up outside of Sylvan Grove, Kansas, where he was a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his football career at Dodge City Community College before turning his passion toward coaching and developing young athletes.

Craig and his family live in Osage City, and he’s the proud dad of Rhylee, Kessley, and Eli. Professionally, he serves as a Work Week Manager at Wolf Creek Nuclear in Burlington.

With 10 years of coaching experience, Craig has made a tremendous impact on young athletes. One of his greatest accomplishments came as a Special Olympics softball coach, leading his team to a Top Tier Gold Medal at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. 🥇

Since then, he has coached multiple 12U–14U teams, helped coach his youngest daughter’s 6U coach pitch team, and currently coaches the Emporia Vipers Special Olympics golf team.

Coach Craig brings a wealth of knowledge, a servant’s heart, and a passion for helping athletes reach their full potential. His commitment to developing players both on and off the field aligns perfectly with what the Ottawa Raptors are all about.

We are incredibly excited to have Coach Craig Venters join the Raptors family. Please help us give Craig and his family a warm Raptor Nation welcome! 💙🩵

Welcome to the Raptors, Coach Craig! 🦖



Craig Venters Ottawa Raptors

The Ottawa Raptors have preached one thing all season…

Trust the process.

Trust the work. Trust the vision. Trust what we’re building.

From a small town in Kansas to one of the biggest youth baseball stages in the country, these boys are proving that hard work, commitment, and believing in each other can take you anywhere.

⚾️ Top 8 out of 94 teams
💣 27 Team Home Runs
🔥 And we’re NOT DONE YET!

Next up:
⏰ 8:30 AM (NY Time)
⏰ 7:30 AM (Kansas Time)

No matter what happens next, these boys have already made their mark. But they’re not satisfied yet.

Small town. Big dreams. Big opportunities. Big results.

🔥 BRACKET PLAY… SURVIVE AND ADVANCE! 🔥

Wow. What. A. Game. 😳💙

If you watched this one, you know it was an absolute heart-racer from the first pitch to the final out!

💣 Home Run Watch:
⚾ Gunner
⚾ Levi
⚾ Xavier
⚾ Everette

That gives the Ottawa Raptors an unbelievable 2️⃣5️⃣ TEAM HOME RUNS at Cooperstown! 💥

📈 Record Update: 6-1

The boys battled through and came away with a huge first bracket win, earning another shot to keep their Cooperstown dream alive!

And when it mattered most… Gunner took the mound to close it out, throwing straight GAS! 🔥💨 He slammed the door shut and finished off an incredible team victory!

These boys continue to show heart, grit, and confidence every time they step on the field. They aren’t just competing—they’re proving they belong.

⏰ Next Up: Game 2 at 6:30 PM ET

Let’s keep this run going! 💙🦖

BIG DREAMS. BIG OPPORTUNITIES. BIG RESULTS. 💙🦖⚾

This team continues to prove that hard work pays off.

✔️ 5-1 in pool play
✔️ Upper Bracket
✔️ Top third out of 94 teams
✔️ 20 team home runs
✔️ Gave the #2 overall seed their toughest game of the tournament and held them to their lowest run total all week.

These boys didn’t come to just participate—they came to compete. Every inning, every at-bat, and every pitch has shown the heart, grit, and determination that defines the Ottawa Raptors.

The job isn’t finished.

🏆 Bracket play starts tomorrow afternoon.

Let’s keep chasing the dream. One game at a time.

SOFTBALL UPDATE.
Tryouts are going strong lots if private tryouts. We are trying to get everyone contacted next two days. Any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank you all!

We have our last big tryout on the 19th!!!

What an awesome turnout for our tryouts! We truly appreciate all the referrals and word-of-mouth support.

For those interested in softball, we have one final tryout date on 7/19. We can’t wait to meet you and your athlete!

To the ladies who have already tried out: We will be contacting you by tomorrow evening once our current games conclude. We still have teams in action, so thank you for your patience!

Thank you,
- Ottawa Raptors

Teams we will have this season.
SOFTBALL 🥎
8U
10U
12C
12B
14C
16B
16A
18B
18A