09/12/2005 9:45 AM - FOR RELEASE: 9:00 a.m. (CDT), Monday, September 12, 2005

Outfielder Brent Krause of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks has been selected as the 2005 Northern League Rookie of the Year, it was announced today by the league office.

Other 2005 NL award recipients announced today:

--Rookie Pitcher of the Year: RHP Quintin Oldenburg, Gary-Calgary

--Relief Pitcher of the Year: RHP Matt Hammons, St. Paul

--Most Outstanding Defensive Player: SS Max Poulin, Winnipeg

--Executive of the Year: Roger Wexelberg, Gary

--Best Playing Surface: Haymarket Park, Lincoln

Krause batted .327 with 14 homers and 51 rbi in 91 games for the RedHawks in 2005. He received 21 of the 41 ballots cast to easily outdistance 1B Jason Colson of Calgary (5) and Schaumburg INF Josue Lopez (4).

Oldenburg compiled an 11-5 record and 4.86 era in 22 starts while splitting the season between Gary and Calgary. The righthander ranked fourth in the Northern League in victories. Winnipeg RHP Ivan Hernandez was second in the balloting.

Hammons was a runaway winner as the league?s top relief pitcher. The righthander led the NL with 25 saves while compiling an 0-3 record and 2.77 era in 37 appearances. In 39 innings he fanned 47 and held the opponents to a .188 batting average.

Poulin was the recipient of the first award as the Northern League?s top defensive player, edging Schaumburg shortstop Geoff McCallum. Poulin compiled a .972 fielding percentage (13 e/458 tc) with 58 double plays. He batted .277 with five homers, 32 rbi, and 18 stolen bases in 94 games for the Goldeyes.

Wexelberg has served as Vice President and General Manager of the Gary SouthShore RailCats for the last four seasons The RailCats had a 54-42 record and have advanced to the Northern League Championship Series in 2005 after establishing a league mark with 65 losses the year before. Gary also established an all-time single season attendance record at U.S. Steel Yard and attracted a capacity crowd to the 2005 Northern League All-Star Game in July.

Lincoln?s Haymarket Park has been selected as the Northern League?s best playing surface in each of the five seasons since the park opened in 2001.

Balloting was conducted among Northern League managers, radio announcers, and media. The Executive of the Year was selected by league Directors and General Managers. The awards for Northern League, Player, Pitcher, Manager, and Organization of the Year will be announced on Thursday. The 2005 Northern League All-Star Team was announced last week.



NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES OPENS ON TUESDAY NIGHT IN FARGO

The 2005 Northern League Championship Series opens on Tuesday night when the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks face the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The first two games of the best of five series will be played at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo. Game 3 and Games 4 and 5, if necessary will take place at Gary?s U.S. Steel Yard.

The RedHawks, who won a league record 68 regular season games and tied for the best winning percentage in all of professional baseball, won both halves of the North Division, then defeated the wild card Lincoln Saltdogs in the Division Series. This marks the 6th time in its ten seasons of existence that Fargo-Moorhead has advanced to the Northern League Championship Series, winning in 1998 and 2003.

The RailCats were awarded the 2nd Half South Division title after having the same record as 1st half champ St. Paul, Gary?s 1st playoff appearance in its 4th Northern League season. The RaiCats then defeated the Saints in five games to become the 3rd Northern League expansion team (entered in 2002) to reach the Championship Series. Fargo-Moorhead has six appearances since entering the league in 1996, and Lincoln (started in Madison, WI in 1996) lost to Winnipeg in 2001 (Central Division final).

Fargo-Moorhead righthander Brandon Culp, who was 14-0 in the regular season, faces RHP Mike Schaefer (4-8) of Gary in the series opener on Tuesday.

2005 NORTHERN LEAGUE CHAMIPONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE AND PROBABLES (All Times Central)

Game Date Schedule/Probables Time
1 Tuesday, Sept. 13 Gary (Mike Schaefer) at Fargo-Moorhead (Brandon Culp) 6:05 p.m.
2 Wednesday, Sept. 14 Gary (TBA) at Fargo-Moorhead (Taft Cable) 6:05 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 15 Travel Day
3 Friday, Sept. 16 Fargo-Moorhead at Gary 7:00 p.m.
4* Saturday, Sept. 17 Fargo-Moorhead at Gary 6:00 p.m.
5* Sunday, Sept. 18 Fargo-Moorhead at Gary 2:00 p.m.
*If Necessary

2005 NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES RESULTS
NORTH DIVISION?Fargo-Moorhead Wins, 3-1
Game Date Results
1 Tuesday, Sept. 6 at Fargo-Moorhead 7, Lincoln 6 (10 innings)
2 Wednesday, Sept. 7 at Fargo-Moorhead 9, Lincoln 2
3 Friday, Sept. 9 at Lincoln 9, Fargo-Moorhead 3
4 Saturday, Sept. 10 Fargo-Moorhead 13, at Lincoln 6
SOUTH DIVISION?Gary Wins, 3-2
Game Date Results
1 Tuesday, Sept. 6 at St. Paul 6, Gary 4
2 Wednesday, Sept. 7 Gary 10, at St. Paul 9
3 Friday, Sept. 9 St. Paul 5 at Gary 4
4 Saturday, Sept. 10 at Gary 1, St. Paul 0
5 Sunday, Sept. 11 at Gary 9, St. Paul 4

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact John Blake, Chief Operating Officer, 817-378-9898