Recent run puts F-M on top

Twenty-five games into this Northern League season, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks were one game below .500.

With 22 games remaining in the regular season, the RedHawks had the best record in the league.

"I don't know how to put my finger on it," RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said before his team played Kansas City on Friday at Newman Outdoor Field. "We've come together and played good baseball."

Heading into Friday, the RedHawks were 33-15 in their last 48 games to push their overall record to 45-28, four games better than Calgary for the best record in the league.

"It was just patience," Simunic said. "It took a little longer for this team to come together. Once they got the hang of it, they got going."

Left fielder Tydus Meadows has played a key role in the turnaround. Meadows was batting .203 through June 14, the day the RedHawks were 12-13. Entering Friday, Meadows was batting .285 with 13 doubles, 14 home runs and 40 RBIs in 68 games.

Meadows has hit 12 of those home runs in July and August. He batted .318 through 24 games in July. He is batting .406 through the first six games in August.

"He's really turned his game around," Simunic said.

Center fielder Joe Mathis, right fielder Richard Austin and third baseman Ruben Salazar have also been solid throughout the winning surge.

They all have at least 49 RBIs through 73 games.

"They have been tremendous," Simunic said. "They all do what they do."

Starter Dane Renkert, relievers Adam Rowe and Jason Schutt and closer Nate Cotton have been the spine of the pitching staff.

"Everybody has been steady," Simunic said. "Everyone has done their share."

Fastballs

Simunic said he expects left-handed pitcher Mike Peschel, who has been out with a sore back, to return in the middle of next week. Peschel last pitched on July 5. ... Right-handed pitcher Todd George (1-2, 6.67 ERA) is slated to start Sunday for the RedHawks. Kansas City is expected to counter with left-hander Anthony Boughner (6-3, 5.50 ERA).

Redhawks report

- Up next: Kansas City at RedHawks, 7 p.m. today, Newman Outdoor Field

- Scheduled starters: F-M, RHP Mark Michael (4-4, 4.26 ERA); KC, TBA

The Box Score

KANSAS CITY REDHAWKS

ab r h bi ab r h bi

McCallum ss 4 0 1 1 Mathis cf 4 1 0 0

Watson 2b 3 0 0 0 Waymnt ss 4 1 1 1

Delgado 1b 4 0 0 0 Meadws lf 4 3 4 3

Benjamin lf 4 0 0 0 Austin rf 3 1 0 0

Pickering dh 3 1 0 0 Salazar 3b 5 1 3 3

Brown 3b 4 0 1 0 Munoz 1b 3 1 1 2

Gord rf 2 1 0 0 Shorsher c 3 0 0 0

Arlis c 4 2 3 1 Maycck dh 4 1 1 0

Eggleston cf 3 1 1 2 Just 2b 4 2 3 1

Jackson p 0 0 0 0 Renkert p 0 0 0 0

Kramer p 0 0 0 0 Schutt p 0 0 0 0

Jenkins p 0 0 0 0 Cotton p 0 0 0 0

Totals 31 5 6 4 Totals 34 11 13 11

Kansas City 001 100 300-5 6 0

RedHawks 105 010 22x-11 13 1

E-Renkert. DP-Kansas City 1; RedHawks 1. LOB-Kansas City 5; RedHawks 6. 2B-Meadows (14); Salazar 2 (11); Maycock (4); Just 2 (13). 3B-Eggleston (4). HR-Wayment (4); Meadows (15); Munoz (6). HBP-Watson; Gord. SH-McCallum; Eggleston; Wayment. SB-Gord (5). CS-McCallum (2); Just (2).

KANSAS CITY

IP H R ER BB SO

Jackson, L, 1-6 6Xc 9 8 8 3 5

Kramer Zc 1 1 1 2 0

Jenkins 1 3 2 2 1 1

REDHAWKS

IP H R ER BB SO

Renkert, W, 11-1 6 4 3 3 2 5

Schutt 2 2 2 2 0 2

Cotton 1 0 0 0 0 1

Umpires-Home: Himmanen. First: Bertram. Third: Baker. Time-2:47. A-3,346.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Eric Peterson at (701) 241-5513.

Peterson's prep sports blog can be found at www.areavoices.com