2018 Reds Schedule Release

The Crookston Reds are coming off a successful 2017 season, that saw their first trip to the State Tournament since 1999, and 26th appearance overall.  Looking to build upon that success the Reds will play a tough 2018 regular season schedule featuring some of the top teams in both Minnesota and North Dakota. 

The Reds will open the season at home with their earliest start in recent memory May 17 when they host the Fargo Mets, a Class A team in North Dakota that regularly appears in the North Dakota State Tournament.  They will then take the road to face the Wadena/Deer Creek Shockers on May 19 in Deer Creek. 

The Reds will follow up their first two games by playing three straight games against teams that finished in the top three of their respective State Tournaments.  The Reds will play the two-time defending region 10C champion Bemidji Blue Ox who T-3rd on May 20, the Blue Ox made it to the semifinals of the 2017 Class C Tournament losing to the State Champion Kimball Express 2-0.  The Reds will follow that up with home games against the Mayville (ND) Red Caps and the Moorhead Brewers.  The Red Caps finished 3rd in North Dakota’s top class, AAA.  After taking the holiday weekend off, the Reds host the perennial Class B powerhouse Moorhead Brewers who have finished no worst than T-3rd in each of the last four seasons.  Including the State Tournament, the Brewers were 37-5 in 2017. 

Following a tough opening stretch the Reds will head to Staples to compete in the Staples Lumberbats tournament June 2-3.  While the field has yet to be announced, we expect there to be some very good teams taking the field.  The Reds will follow up their first tournament of the year with five straight league games in eight days in the newly named Red River League (formerly Norman-Polk).  This eight-day stretch will go a long way towards determining the Reds playoff positioning as five games represents just under half of the 12-game league schedule. 

The Reds will then host the First Annual Jim Karn Memorial Tournament June 15-17.  Currently the field has four teams, the Reds, Warroad Muskies, Frazee Flames and Tolna (ND).  Tolna is the defending North Dakota Class A State Champion.  The Reds are still searching for a couple of teams to join the field and would like to see a six-team field consisting of pool play and a three-game final found.  While we are still looking for teams, we are hoping the last couple of spots will be filled by the Thompson (ND) Tomahawks, who are the closest amateur team to Crookston and the Vermillion (SD) Grey Sox managed by former Red Mike Moran. 

The rest of the schedule will feature the annual four-game series with Roseau and Warroad, including the a four-game road trip to play those two July 14-15.  A rematch with the Bemidji June 28th, and a game with the Park Rapids Esox on July 6. 

The last game of note will be June 22 in Grafton, ND as part of Grafton’s Summerfest 2018, in what will hopefully become an annual event.  Crookston will be the visiting team against the Cass County (ND) Catfish, the defending Class AA champion.  It should be a fun night, including live music and other events in town both before and after the game. 

It is important to note the start time for most home night games this year is 8 p.m., with the game May 30th vs. the Brewers as the exception (7:30 p.m.).  The Reds will also host a Youth Baseball and Softball Clinic as part of Youth Day from 11-2 p.m. on Sunday, June 10th before playing a doubleheader with Dilworth beginning at 3 p.m.  The Reds will hopefully be announcing other promotional nights between now and the start of the season. 

Hopefully we’ll see many of you out at Karn this summer!

Highlights - 

May 20 @ Bemidji Blue Ox (T-3rd Class C)

May 25 vs Mayville Red Caps (3rd ND Class AAA)

May 30 vs Moorhead Brewers (3rd Class B)

June 15-17 Jim Karn Memorial Tournament (Tolna - State Champion ND Class A)

June 22 @ Grafton Summerfest vs Cass County Catfish (State Champion ND Class AA) 

June 28 vs Bemidji Blue Ox (T-3rd Class C)

July 25-29 - Red River League Playoffs @ TBD

August 4-12 - Region 10C Tournament @ TBD

August 17-September 3 - State Tournament @ Shakopee & New Prague