Long time coming

On June 17, 2026, the Energy City Cactus Rats took the field at home. There were no fans in attendance, but we were able to play ball.

The Cactus Rats hosted the Okotoks Dawgs at Energy City Metro Ballpark in Spruce Grove, marking the first home game in the new stadium. 

It was a night filled with memorable firsts, difficult weather and plenty of work behind the scenes. More than anything, it was an opportunity for the players, coaches, staff and community to see how far the organization had come.

Welcoming the Players to Energy City

For many Cactus Rats players, joining the team means travelling to a new city, meeting new teammates and spending the summer away from home.

Billet families play an integral role in helping players make that transition. They provide more than a place to stay. Welcoming players into their homes, introducing them to the community and giving them a sense of stability throughout a demanding baseball season.

For the families, billeting can be equally rewarding. It offers an opportunity to become part of a player’s journey, experience the season from a different perspective and build relationships that can continue long after the summer ends.

The arrival of the players offered an early look at those connections beginning to form.

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Those interested in welcoming a player into their home can learn more about becoming a billet family.

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As the players settled into their new surroundings, relationships began forming inside the clubhouse.

“I’m just grateful to be on the field,” said Jancarlos Rodriguez. “The energy around the clubhouse and among our teammates is pretty perfect right now. We’ve got a good dynamic.”

Behind the Scenes of Opening Night

Long before the opening pitch, the work had already begun.

Players stretched, played catch and moved through their usual warm-up routines. Others helped prepare the field, getting the playing surface ready for the night.

Sevensma began throwing in the bullpen as the team settled into the rhythm of game-day preparation.

The clouds were looming, but we played ball. 

Matt Sevensma delivers first pitch at Energy City Metro Ballpark in Spruce Grove and gets a swinging strike.

The First Game at Home

The Dawgs came out swinging and hit a two-run home run in the first inning to put the home team behind.

Shortly afterward, the rain intensified and forced the game into a 90-minute delay.

Players, coaches and staff worked throughout the delay to get the field back into playing condition. Tarps had to be removed, repairs had to be made and the surface had to be prepared before the game could continue.

The work paid off.

For Saul Mata, the opportunity for the team to play at Energy City Metro Ballpark represented the culmination of much more than one night of preparation.

“When you look back at how far the Cactus Rats have come, with the stadium, putting the team together, and the coaches and our GM putting in so much work on this field to make it happen, it really means a lot to us,” Mata said. “It’s very special.”

Assistant Coach Ruddy Estrella (left) and Pitcher Saul Mata at the field on game day

A Collection of Firsts

Opening night produced several moments that will always be part of Cactus Rats history.

Seiji Umezawa recorded the first Cactus Rats hit at Energy City Metro Ballpark with a single into left field.

Seiji Umezawa digging in at the plate

Energy City got started offensively in the fourth inning when Micah Cervantes led off with a single.

With the speedy Cervantes on first, the Dawgs pitcher attempted to keep him close, throwing over several times to hold him there.

Dan Kawanishi followed with a difficult 9-pitch at-bat. He worked the count full before grounding out and moving Cervantes into scoring position.

Moments later, Cervantes came all the way home from second on a passed ball that the Dawgs catcher could not locate.

Micah Cervantes crosses the plate for the first run at Energy City Metro Ballpark

It was the first Cactus Rats run scored at Energy City Metro Ballpark.

Cervantes finished the game 2-for-2 with a stolen base and was named the Cactus Rats Player of the Game.

More Than the Final Score

The Cactus Rats had traffic on the bases throughout the night but were unable to cash in again.

The loss dropped Energy City to 4-6 on the season, but the final score told only a small part of the story.

Dan Kawanishi stands in at a rainy 2B, ready for the pitch

The night was about the players taking the field at home for the first time.

It was about the coaches, staff and players who refused to let the rain bring the evening to an early end.

It was about the first pitch, the first hit and the first run at Energy City Metro Ballpark.

It was about the billet families, supporters and members of the community who helped welcome the players and make Energy City feel like home.

Experience the First Home Game

The atmosphere and emotion surrounding the historic night were captured in a cinematic look at the Cactus Rats’ first game at Energy City Metro Ballpark.

Watch: The Cactus Rats First Game at Energy City Metro Ballpark

We would like to thank our partners and sponsors, our staff and their families, our billet families, the players, our fans, the City of Spruce Grove and the WCBL for their continued support.