WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30 th , 2021

- RedHawks Ride Big Third to Beat Goldeyes—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 6/29/21 - June 29 th Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 6/29/21 - Big Third Inning Leads to a RedHawks 11-3 Win—Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (Chad Ekren), 6/29/21 - RedHawks Put Up -Digit Runs for the Second Time to Beat Winnipeg (Video Link)—KVRR (Nick Couzin), 6/29/21 - RedHawks Third Baseman Pina Says ‘Confidence is High’ and So Is His Batting Average—INFORUM (Eric Peterson), 6/29/21 - One ‘Wild’ Night in June 1996 Christened the RedHawks Home Stadium—INFORUM (Eric Peterson), 6/21/21 - Fans React to The Ballpark at Jackson’s New Baseball Team (Video Link)—WBBJ Jackson (Nikita Dennis), 6/23/21

REDHAWKS RIDE BIG THIRD TO BEAT GOLDEYES STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – TUESDAY, JUNE 30 th FARGO, ND – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (15-21) lost 11-3 to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field on Tuesday night.

Fargo-Moorhead (22-17) took control of the game with a six-run bottom of the second. Sam Dexter doubled to left-centre leading off and took third when Alex Boxwell reached on a bunt single along the third base line. Manuel Boscan lined a sacrifice fly to centre that scored Dexter with the game’s first run. After Kevin Krause singled through the left side, Leobaldo Pina flied out to right, advancing Boxwell to third. Correlle Prime’s groundball single through the right side plated Boxwell, while Jordan George a three-run to right. John Silviano doubled to right-centre and came home with the RedHawks’ sixth run on a single to right-centre from Dylan Kelly.

The Goldeyes pulled within 6-1 in the top of the sixth. Max Murphy drew a leadoff walk and scored from first when Kyle Martin doubled to left-centre.

The RedHawks opened a 9-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a Pina RBI groundout and a Prime two-run single.

In the top of the eighth, Raul Navarro hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to plate Tyler Hill and Jay Gonzalez to slice the deficit to 9-3.

Fargo-Moorhead responded with two runs in the bottom half on back-to-back sacrifice flies from Boscan and Krause.

Logan Nissen (2-3) started for the RedHawks and picked up the win, allowing one earned run on five hits in six innings. Nissen walked three and struck out two.

Joey Gonzalez (2-3) started for the Goldeyes and took the loss, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits over six-plus innings. Gonzalez walked two and struck out four.

The Goldeyes and RedHawks continue their series Wednesday night at 7:02 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on CJNU 93.7 FM and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

The Goldeyes will continue to monitor the reopening of the Canada/US border and assess a potential return to Shaw Park in 2021.

In the coming weeks, Winnipeg Goldeyes staff will contact ticket holders with more information and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.

VIDEO: JUNE 29 th GAME HIGHLIGHTS JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – TUESDAY, JUNE 29 th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmZO-kpNdE

BIG THIRD INNING LEADS TO A REDHAWKS 11-3 WIN CHAD EKREN – FARGO-MOORHEAD REDHAWKS – TUESDAY, JUNE 29 th FARGO, N.D. - The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored six runs in the third inning en route to an 11-3 win against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Tuesday night at Newman Outdoor Field. Logan Nissen pitched a shutout through five innings and only allowed one run on five hits over 6.0 innings of work. Jordan George, who spent the 2020 season with Winnipeg, hit a three-run home run and now leads the RedHawks in RBIs with 33.

RedHawks right-handed starter Logan Nissen (2-3) pitched six innings and allowed only one run on five hits and three walks. Nissen got his second win of the season and his first since May 28. RHP Luke Lind made his RedHawks debut in the seventh inning and allowed two runs on a hit and a walk but struck out three batters in 1.1 innings pitched. LHP Tevin Murray and RHP Alex DuBord each pitched one third of an inning before LHP Mark Finkelnburg faced the minimum and struck out two in the ninth inning.

Fargo-Moorhead got the hit parade going in the third, with seven of their 11 hits coming in that inning. The RedHawks scored three more runs in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth to extend their lead. Alex Boxwell was 3-for-4 with a double and Correlle Prime was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a run scored in the win. Manuel Boscan could not extend his 11-game hitting streak but had a walk, hit two sacrifice flies, and scored a run in the win.

Winnipeg starter Joey Gonzalez (2-3) pitched six innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks. Gonzalez struck out four batters and got his third loss of the season. In relief, the Goldeyes turned to LHP Travis Seabrooke. Seabrooke pitched one inning and allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out a batter. RHP Jake Polanic finished the game and allowed two runs in the eighth inning.

The Goldeyes scored one run off of a Kyle Martin double in the sixth and scored two more in the eighth. Center fielder Tyler Hill led the way for Winnipeg and was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, and a run scored in the game. The Goldeyes hit into three double plays and left eight runners on base.

Fargo-Moorhead and Winnipeg will continue their series with a 7:02 p.m. game on Wednesday night in Fargo. RHP Bret Helton (3-2) will start for the RedHawks and RHP Mike Webb (0-0) will start for the Goldeyes.

VIDEO: REDHAWKS PUT UP DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS FOR THE SECOND TIME TO BEAT WINNIPEG NICK COUZIN – KVRR – TUESDAY, JUNE 29 th LINK: https://www.kvrr.com/2021/06/29/redhawks-put-up-double-digit-runs-for-the-second-time-to-beat-winnipeg/

REDHAWKS THIRD BASEMAN PINA SAYS ‘CONFIDENCE IS HIGH’ AND SO IS HIS BATTING AVERAGE ERIC PETERSON – INFORUM – TUESDAY, JUNE 29 th FARGO — Leo Pina didn’t have his typical production last summer, batting below .300 for the first time with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks since he joined the American Association baseball club in 2018.

Pina batted .275 in a season that started late and was limited to 60 regular season games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Covid hurt my preparation,” Pina said. “Last year, I didn't have the (same) offseason preparation.”

On the heels of a more typical offseason, Pina has been a hitting machine this summer. The third baseman is batting .404 through 38 games to lead the league. Pina had three hits in a 12-9 victory against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Monday, June 28, at Newman Outdoor Field.

“I feel stronger this year and that gives me confidence,” Pina said. “Confidence is high, that is one of the secrets. I feel like that this year. … When I step to the plate, I can see the difference. I’m ready. This is me, my best right now.”

Pina is in his fourth season with the RedHawks, batting .319 in 2018 and .323 in 2019 before he hit .275 a season ago in 60 games. He bounced back this summer.

“He’s playing to the level of his ability,” said RedHawks manager Chris Coste. “There is something to be said for experience and confidence when you combine that with already high-level ability. He’s no longer the young kid, he’s now a veteran-type presence and he really embraces that.”

Pina has 11 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 31 RBIs and is also a sure-handed defender. He’s committed only three errors this season. Pina said his defense has come more naturally, adding he's learned "a lot" about hitting during his time with Fargo-Moorhead.

Coste said former RedHawks Yhoxian Medina, who played for F-M from 2017-2019, had a hand in helping Pina develop. Both Pina and Medina are from Venezuela.

“When he first got to us, he was a little bit raw, he was still young and still trying to find his confidence,” Coste said of Pina. “Yhoxian kind of set the tone for Leo on how he had to do things every single day. … The example that Yhoxian set for Pina and the demand that Yhoxian put on Leo, you can’t even put a price tag on it. Then confidence started to kick in.”

Pina, who turned 27 on Tuesday, June 29, has anchored the RedHawks offense along with fellow veteran Correlle Prime. Prime, who plays first base, is batting .335 with 15 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 38 games.

“He’s such a nice guy,” Pina said of Prime. “He’s always laughing. He’s kind of relaxed and I like that, too.”

Pina and Prime have become more important this season for a RedHawks team that currently has nine rookies on the roster.

“They’re incredibly important because they help us win games with how they play every day, but just as important behind the scenes,” Coste said. “At this level of independent baseball you need some lead-by-example guys. … You can’t calculate their value.”

The RedHawks have transferred the contract of six players to Major League organizations since early May. Pina has used that as motivation.

"It gives you that little energy to keep playing hard and good," said Pina, who spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Pina grew up in Maracay, Venezuela, about 90 minutes away from the capital city of Caracas. He started playing baseball at around 4 years old. He’s played since he was 17 years old.

Pina makes his offseason home in Bellefonte, Pa., which is near State College. He and his wife Kiara Gonzalez have two children, 3-year-old Leo and 1- year-old Mateo. His family is in Fargo this summer.

“It's nice," Pina said of being able to go home to his family after games.

Pina added that Coste and his coaching staff create an atmosphere for success.

“They treat you like you are home,” Pina said. “The most important thing is the coaches and how they treat you. That’s a key for the team. You feel like a family, you talk, you can express yourself. I think that’s the key. You enjoy yourself in the clubhouse and on the field, too.”

ONE ‘WILD’ NIGHT IN JUNE 1996 CHRISTENED THE REDHAWKS HOME STADIUM ERIC PETERSON – INFORUM – TUESDAY, JUNE 21 st FARGO — An around-the-clock race to lay sod to open a yet-to-be-named, new stadium preceded a professional baseball game that featured 24 runs, a bench-clearing brawl and a standing-room-only crowd.

That was the setting more than two decades ago at what is now called Newman Outdoor Field.

It was 25 years ago, June 21, 1996, when the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks played their first game at what was then referred to as “The Nest.” They were members of the still-fledgling, eight-team Northern League.

“It was pretty wild,” said Josh Buchholz, the team’s clubhouse manager that summer who later became F-M's general manager. “The fans were totally into it, the stadium was really incomplete, but they did everything they could from a fans’ standpoint to give them a great show. … It was the start of something really wonderful that year and the last 25 years.”

Buchholz, in his early 20s in 1996, is now the deputy commissioner of the American Association, the league the RedHawks now call home in their 26th season. F-M starts a three-game series against the Chicago Dogs at 7:02 p.m. Monday, June 21, at Newman, the anniversary date of the first RedHawks game in the stadium.

The RedHawks were nearly 20 games into the 1996 regular season before they played their first game in their new home. It served as the team's second home opener of sorts as F-M played its first homestand that summer at Jack Williams Stadium before they settled into “The Nest.”

“By that time of the season, the support was already so intense from the fans, that we knew it was going to be crazy,” said RedHawks manager Chris Coste, the starting on that 1996 team that made it to the Northern League championship series. “The expectations were a -type feel and it was.”

The playing surface was the big story in the lead up to that second RedHawks home opener during that 1996 season. Only days before opening the new stadium, the team had to change sod providers. The sod company the team initially hired was unable to deliver on time due to heavy rains.

“The Nest” opener was on a Friday night and the race to install the sod started Tuesday afternoon. That last strip of sod was laid at 12:12 a.m. Thursday morning, the RedHawks general manager John Dittrich told The Forum in 1996.

“The place wasn’t complete. It was pretty messy, but we got it done,” Dittrich said, remembering that first game at Newman. “I don’t recall a lot of complaints from fans. Everybody was glad to have the new ballpark, excited about it, and so were we.”

Sioux Falls outslugged the RedHawks for a 13-11 victory before 4,054 fans on that June evening in 1996. Coste batted seventh and started the game at catcher. That F-M team also featured players like shortstop Chad Akers, third baseman Johnny Knott, Brian Traxler and outfielder Darryl Motley. They all became well-known figures in the franchise’s early seasons. Manager Doug Simunic, pitching / Jeff Bittiger and team president Bruce Thom were also central figures.

“Johnny Knott went over and just lifted it right up,” Coste said of the grass around third base. “There were like these large staples that would hold sod into the ground. It was pretty surreal. In a normal situation, we would have not wanted to play on it, but we all wanted to play so badly on that field that it was fine.”

In the seventh inning, RedHawks outfielder Aaron Iatarola and Sioux Falls first baseman Paul Carey got tangled up as Carey tagged out Iatarola on a slow grounder, according to a Forum article. That led to both benches clearing. Both players were ejected and Simunic ended up with a cut on his face.

“I remember (Traxler) saying, being the jokester that he was, ‘That’s a deep cut there.’ It was just a scratch,” said Simunic, who managed the RedHawks for 22 seasons. “It was quite a season. I remember that being quite a season. … I just remember that, that whole year the crowd was pretty electric."

The RedHawks posted a 53-31 record in 1996, knocking off the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the St. Paul Saints in the championship series.

“It was one of the most incredible and emotional seasons," said Coste, who won a World Series championship with the in 2008. “Other than the World Series, that ’96 season was the most emotional and amazing season that I personally ever had involving a team.”

Dittrich remembers selling tickets out of a small, portable trailer off the southeast corner of the stadium for that first game and first homestead at “The Nest.” The team dressed at nearby Dacotah Field as the clubhouse wasn’t ready when the stadium opened. The press box area was “wide open,” Buchholz said, and there was temporary fencing around the facing of the outdoor seating area for the suites.

“They were literally still working on things until the gates were opened,” Buchholz said.

“I don’t recall much about the game at all,” said Dittrich, who had a 42-year career in baseball that included 14 different cities. “We were probably putting out fires all over the place.”

Buccholz recalls Motley, a World Series champion with the Kansas City Royal in 1985, bolting into the fray during the bench-clearing brawl in the seventh.

“I remember Darryl Motley running from the dugout sort of jumping over the pile with a cocked fist,” Buchholz said. “I don’t know if he hit anybody or not.”

Even though the RedHawks lost the first game at their new stadium, Buchholz said that night helped set the tone in that first season.

“I think it probably exceeded anybody’s wildest expectations, that whole summer did,” Buchholz said. “It seemed like every week there was something new and crazy. Maybe we got spoiled that first year. It was a really wild summer. Everything sort of fell into place.”

A Fargo South graduate who also played baseball for Concordia College, Coste said for him it was a special feeling to play in that first game in “The Nest.”

“I wasn’t even supposed to make the team and now I’m playing every game and catching. I already felt like a Major Leaguer,” Coste said. “It was pretty clear that this was something that was going to last a long time.”

VIDEO: FANS REACT TO THE BALLPARK AT JACKSON’S NEW BASEBALL TEAM NIKITA DENNIS – WBBJ JACKSON – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 rd LINK: https://www.wbbjtv.com/2021/06/23/fans-react-to-the-ballpark-at-jacksons-new-baseball-team/