NL Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

RedHawks name Montgomery pitching coach

Published on February 4, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks News Release


FARGO, N.D. – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have named Steve Montgomery as their new Pitching Coach, the Northern League club announced today.

Montgomery becomes just the second pitching coach in club history, taking the reins from longtime Fargo-Moorhead Pitching Coach and pitcher Jeff Bittiger. Bittiger has taken a scouting position with the Oakland Athletics organization, but will still work with the RedHawks as a player personnel consultant. Bittiger will work with RedHawks Field Manager Doug Simunic to build the roster for the 2004 season.

Montgomery, 29, spent the past three seasons on the RedHawks pitching staff. He is the RedHawks all-time saves leader with 47 over the past three seasons. Last season Montgomery was 7-3 with a 3.55 ERA and 11 saves in 32 games (three starts), helping the RedHawks to the 2003 Northern League Championship.

Montgomery's best season with the RedHawks was in 2002, when he finished 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA and 19 saves in 36 games. Originally signed by the Kansas City Royals as a free agent out of Kent State University in Ohio, Montgomery also pitched in the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox organizations. In 1997, he was the Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 10-5 with a 3.10 ERA for the Bowie (Md.) Baysox of the Eastern League (AA).

"I'm looking forward to meeting the challenge and opportunity Doug Simunic, Jeff Bittiger and the RedHawks have given me," said Montgomery. "Working with Bit the past three years has prepared me for this position and I'm excited to get going."

"I am happy we can turn over the job to Steve Montgomery," said Bittiger. "I have been grooming him for the past two seasons, and we will be working very closely together. I don't feel that we'll miss a beat."

"He was an outstanding player for us and did a great job, and we expect him to do well as our pitching coach," said Simunic. "I think he's ready to move into next phase in his baseball career."

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Northern League Stories from February 4, 2004


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