Highway 99 Rivalry Series kicks off at Valley Strong Ballpark

Visalia Rawhide and Fresno Grizzlies open annual baseball showdown with fans excited for new team theme nights

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:18am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a baseball game between the Visalia Rawhide and Fresno Grizzlies, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of bright team colors representing the competitive spirit of the rivalry.The annual Highway 99 Rivalry Series between the Visalia and Fresno minor league baseball teams kicks off with a new trophy on the line and creative theme nights that have fans buzzing with anticipation.Fresno Today

The Visalia Rawhide and Fresno Grizzlies kicked off their annual Highway 99 Rivalry Series at the Valley Strong Ballpark, marking a tradition for long-time fans and a first-time experience for newcomers. The Rawhide are embracing a 'Savor the Season' theme, including plans to transform into the 'Central Valley Sir Loins' for Saturday games, which has fans eager to see what the team has in store.

Why it matters

The Highway 99 Rivalry Series between the Visalia and Fresno minor league baseball teams is a long-standing tradition in the Central Valley, but this year the series will lead to a new trophy, adding an extra layer of excitement and competition. The Rawhide's creative new theme nights are also generating buzz and drawing new fans to the ballpark.

The details

Fans packed the Valley Strong Ballpark on Friday to watch the Visalia Rawhide and Fresno Grizzlies kick off their annual Highway 99 Rivalry Series. The season opener marked a tradition for many long-time fans, like Joey Pena who has been attending Rawhide games for over 40 years. But it was also a first-time experience for others, like Gregory Villegas and his family. The Rawhide's 2026 theme is 'Savor the Season,' which includes plans to transform the team into the 'Central Valley Sir Loins' for Saturday games, an idea that has fans eager to see what the team has in store.

  • The Highway 99 Rivalry Series kicked off on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • This will be the first year the series leads to a trophy.

The players

Visalia Rawhide

A minor league baseball team that plays in the California League and is the High-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Fresno Grizzlies

A minor league baseball team that plays in the California League and is the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Joey Pena

A long-time Visalia Rawhide fan who has been attending games for over 40 years.

Gregory Villegas

A fan attending his first Visalia Rawhide game.

Mike Carney

The new CEO of the Visalia Rawhide, who has plans to make Rawhide games even more fun this year.

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What they’re saying

“I've been coming to Rawhide games for over 40 years.”

— Joey Pena

“It's our first game, to be honest, and we're enjoying it. So, honestly, we're having a good time right now.”

— Gregory Villegas

“It means that somebody needs to put a big fat steak on the grill.”

— Joey Pena

“I think just really savoring these kinds of moments while our kids are little and just enjoying this time together as a family is super important.”

— Ken Schmidt

“To savor the season, it all starts today. And, you know, with these fans coming here, that's what it's all about.”

— Mike Carney, Visalia Rawhide CEO

What’s next

This will be the first of 24 Highway 99 Rivalry Series games, with 12 scheduled in Visalia and 12 scheduled in Fresno.

The takeaway

The Highway 99 Rivalry Series between the Visalia Rawhide and Fresno Grizzlies is a long-standing tradition in the Central Valley that is generating even more excitement this year with the introduction of a trophy and the Rawhide's creative new theme nights. Fans are eager to see how the teams will compete and what new experiences the Rawhide will offer throughout the season.