The Orange County Riptide is more than just a baseball team; For many locals, the squad’s regular games are a staple of their culture and lifestyle, serving a deeper purpose in their lives. The Riptide strives to provide an inclusive, entertaining, and exciting experience for all attendees, and has proven successful by their loyal fans.
Randy and Barbara Scott rarely miss a Riptide event. They’ve been season ticket holders for several years, and consider themselves passionate Riptide fans. Southern Californians since the 1980’s, Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been enthusiastic spectators of local baseball teams, including the University of Southern California, the Alma Mater of their children. Since their move to Orange County, they have replaced the Trojans with the Riptide, and make the nightly trip from Laguna Woods to see the squad in action.
The couple met in Indianapolis and have been married for nearly 60 years. Though Mr. Scott never played baseball himself, he coached Babe Ruth teams in Indiana for many years. While married, Mr. Scott served in the Air Force for six years under Presidents Johnson and Nixon, primarily as a survival training instructor for pilots in Vietnam.
Since then, he and Mrs. Scott have started a family, retired, and moved to Laguna Woods, where they live happily among their close friends. Though they don’t typically enjoy late nights, they make an exception for the Riptide, staying until the game’s end every time.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott cite the stadium’s cleanliness and top-notch maintenance as the original appeal of the games, but they have since grown to become loyal to the team — players, coaches, and staff alike. “I feel a sort of attachment to the Riptide,” Mr. Scott reveals. “[I take] pride in the community, and in the team.”
Though they don’t know the players personally, Mr. and Mrs. Scott bring a printed Riptide roster to each game, allowing them to follow each player more closely. Mr. Scott notes that he’s particularly drawn to “the competitiveness of the players and the coaches.” He enjoys “good quality baseball from players all over the United States.”
Beyond the players, Mr. Scott has met several members of the staff, and has connected with other avid Riptide fans. Mr. and Mrs. Scott identify with the Riptide, referring to the team as “us” and “ours”. The couple plans to renew their season tickets going forward, and hopes to encourage other locals to join them. Simply put by Mr. Scott, “It’s time well spent.”
