FARGO, N.D. (Nick Couzin/KVRR) — For the second consecutive season the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have the American Association’s batting champion.
The honor goes to the stellar utility man Manny Boscan. Batting .344 with 24 doubles, 7 home runs and 63 RBI. Boscan played five different positions and logged most of his time at second base, starting there in 32 of his 91 games. The Venezuelan edged out teammate Kevin Krause, who hit .341, for the crown.
Boscan was acquired by the RedHawks in the offseason and was a staple in the number two hole; however, manager Chris Coste says his contributions to the team’s success go far beyond the batter’s box.
“I wasn’t surprise that he hit really really well. A batting title you can never really bank on, but it was more so the defensive side of things that we’re so proud of with him,” Coste said. “The batting title was just a bonus. People don’t talk about his baserunning. The single best in the league. Not necessarily stolen bases but other ways. Its just a product of when he was a kid he played every position in the infield in Venezuela, and it’s just what he does.”
Boscan’s numbers helped propel the RedHawks to the playoffs, finishing second in the North Division. The American Association changed its postseason format for 2021, as the winner of a single wild card game between the second and third place finishers from each division advances to a best-of-five series against their respective division champions.
F-M hosts defending AA champion Milwaukee on Wednesday night looking to punch their tickets to Chicago, and Coste says it requires a different approach.
“The one game playoff. Everything is riding on that one pitch,” Coste said. “Every umpire calls every pitch. Every at bat. The weather plays a factor. There’s just no room to give anything and you take everything you can. It changes the pitching staff because instead of your best pitcher starting the opening game of a five-game series, he’s needed for one game. You need every single one you have available out in the bullpen ready to rock.”
The RedHawks boast the homefield advantage, but the Milkmen took 7 of the 13 regular season meetings. First pitch is Wednesday night at 6:30 at Newman Outdoor Field.
