The Petrolia Raiders open the Western Counties Senior Baseball season this Friday against the Wyoming Cattlebarons at Canton Park.

“This is the strongest club we have had yet,” said Raiders spokesperson Tim Martin, who notes that playing Wyoming in the opener will be a tough test.

“They’re a real strong ball club.  We’ll have to play our best ball to beat them.”

Corey Saunders will start for Petrolia Friday at 7:30 pm. Wyoming had not yet named a starter.

“I think we’ve got a good core of guys,” said Wyoming spokesperson Tom Wheeler, who says the Raiders always play well against the Cattlebarons.

“They always come up with the big hit against us,” said Wheeler.  “I love playing those guys.”

He expects Wyoming, Petrolia, Courtright and Port Lambton to be among the league leaders this season.

Friday’s game is the first of six in a row on the road for Petrolia to open the season.

Their home opener is a doubleheader at Morrison Field on June 7 against Courtright and Forest.

Home nights for Wyoming is Friday at 7:30 pm.

Wyoming will also host the OBA Senior “B” tournament on the Labour Day weekend, while Petrolia will likely compete at the Senior “C” level in Thorold on the same weekend.  The Raiders will decide on their classification by July.