"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job
at hand,and the determination that whether we win
or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to
the task at hand." -Vince Lombardi
GARY, Ind. - With the semi-finals over, we are down to the final series for the 2005 Northern League Champions between the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and the Gary RailCats. This season Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln, Saint Paul and Gary all presented a fierce dedication and drive for their respective divisions and Northern League baseball. All four teams can be proud of the perseverance they had this season. They have all had one thing in common . . . determination. Ultimately the Northern division Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks dominated the Lincoln Salt Dogs in all but one game of the semi-finals winning 3 of 4 games.
The edge of your seat battle, which ensued this past week for the Southern Division title pit Gary against the 2004 Northern League Champion Saint Paul Saints. Each team went head to head for five exhausting games. The semi-finals began last Tuesday night in St. Paul with the Saints taking game 1. The RailCats continued to draw from their incredible pitching staff and position players to take a lead over Saint Paul in game 2 but by the eighth inning, the RailCats went to their closer Derek Lopez. To keep the Saints from their trademark come from behind win Lopez held the Saints off allowing Gary a badly needed 10-9 win. The series continued after a travel day from Saint Paul to Gary.
On Friday September 9, 2005 at the U.S. Steel Yard, game 3 was a battle but Saint Paul got the win edging themselves that much closer to their "drive for five". Saint Paul fell to Gary, completely shut out in game 4 by RailCats starting pitcher Cody Fisher and closer Derek Lopez. The Saints attempted come from behind winning style was shut down by the RailCats pitching staff again in game five sending the RailCats up against Fargo-Moorhead for their first Northern League Championship run in their four seasons in the NL.
The drive for the 2005 Northern League Championship continues Tuesday night in Fargo-Moorhead as Gary comes face to face with the winingest team in the league this season. The series will be best of five with two games played in Fargo, North Dakota Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Games 3, and then 4 through 5 if necessary will be played at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary. Watch out baseball fans this is going to be one heck of a showdown for the 2005 Northen League Championship.
