09/09/2006 10:41 AM - The Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks each extended their respective Northern League Semifinal Playoff Series with shutout wins Friday night.

At U. S. Steel Yard in Gary, the RailCats scored an unearned run in the first inning and three pitchers blanked the Schaumburg Flyers on six hits, as the RailCats defeated the Flyers 1-0. Schaumburg still leads the best-of-five East Division Semifinal two games to one, with game four set for Saturday in Gary at 6 p.m.

At CanWest Global Park in Winnipeg, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks rode Scott Goodman's fifth-inning homer to a 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Winnipeg still leads the best-of-five West Division semifinal two games to one, with game for set for Saturday in Winnipeg at 7:05 p.m.

Gary starting pitcher Willie Glen worked eight innings, scattering six hits and striking out eight. The Flyers threatened in both the seventh and eighth innings, with Glen working out of a first-and-third jam in the seventh by inducing two infield pop-ups.

In the eighth, Schaumburg's Nelson Gord singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and attempted to score on Rob Watson's single. But Gary right fielder Steve Haake threw out Gord at the plate, with RailCats catcher Chris Curry hanging on to the ball after Gord bowled him over. Curry then had the presence of mind to thow to second, in time to retire Watson attempting to advance on the throw.

Kris Regas relieved Glen to begin the ninth and struck out Flyers DH Chris Weekly. RailCats closer Pete Sikaras then came on for Regas and recorded the final two outs to earn the save.

In Winnipeg, Goodman drilled Goldeyes starter Josh Beshears' first pitch in the fifth inning well over the right field fence to give Fargo-Moorhead a 1-0 lead.

The blast was all RedHawks starter Todd George needed. George worked seven and two-third shuout innings, yielding just three hits and striking out five. Mike Wagner recorded the final out in the eighth and Brandon Culp struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win.

Fargo-Moorhead scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Craig Ringe dashed home on an error by Winnipeg shortstop Max Poulin.

2006 Northern League Playoff Results & Schedule

Semifinal Series: East Division

Game 1: Tuesday, September 5: Schaumburg 7, Gary 6 (11 innings)
Game 2: Wednesday, September 6: Schaumburg 2, Gary 0
Game 3: Friday, September 8: Gary 1, Schaumburg 0
Game 4 Saturday, September 9: Schaumburg (TBA) @ Gary (RHP Jason Shelley), 6 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary) Sunday, September 10: Schaumburg @ Gary, 2 p.m.

Semifinal Series: West Division

Game 1: Tuesday, September 5: Winnipeg 8, Fargo-Moorhead 0
Game 2: Wednesday, September 6: Winnipeg 6, Fargo-Moorhead 4
Game 3: Friday, September 8: Fargo-Moorhead 2, Winnipeg 0
Game 4 Saturday, September 9: Fargo-Moorhead (RHP Jeff McLaughlin) @ Winnipeg (RHP Ben Moore), 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday, September 10: Winnipeg @ Fargo-Moorhead, 6:05 p.m.

Championship Series:

Game 1: Tuesday, September 12: West Division @ East Division

Game 2: Wednesday, September 13: West Division @ East Division

Game 3: Friday, September 15: East Division @ West Division

Game 4 (if necessary): Saturday, September 16: East Division @ West Division

Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday, September 17: East Division @ West Division