FARGO — Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks supervisor Chris Coste has a sandy-haired buddy following him around the ballpark this American Association season that assists the previous Major Leaguer handle the day-to-day grind of expert baseball.
Summer is a yellow Labrador and psychiatric-trained service dog that Coste has actually had considering that March.
“She can sense my mood, she was trained that way,” Coste said. “It benefits me, but an important part of this was having dogs around the team the last several years, it’s amazing what it can do for us.”
A summertime earlier, Coste handled neurological problems in his back and lower body that caused tension and stress and anxiety and triggered him to miss out on a good portion of the early part of the 2022 season. That’s why he at first checked out getting a qualified dog like Summer, who might be with him anywhere he went, consisting of the ball park.
While Coste’s physical and psychological health has actually enhanced significantly considering that last season, he’s happy to have Summer.
“I don’t need one, but happy to have one,” Coste said of a service dog. “If she senses high anxiety … she’ll just put a paw on my leg.”
David Samson/The Forum
The RedHawks play the Sioux City Explorers at 7:02 p.m. Friday at Newman Outdoor Field to start a three-game series. F-M is on top of the West Division getting in the weekend series. Summer has actually been a soothing existence throughout this strong start to the season for the safeguarding league champs.
“She kind of brings you back down to earth right away after games, whether it’s a good result or bad result,” said RedHawks bench coach Anthony Renz. “I think overall she brings a good, positive energy to the ballpark every single day.”
In the offseason, Coste viewed a SportsCenter function he discovered on YouTube about a Boston Red Sox groundskeeper who utilized a service dog to help him handle trauma. Coste said his other half Marcia informed him to check out service dogs after he viewed the inspiring story.
“I stumbled across Summer and got really lucky with her. I wanted a dog that I could literally bring everywhere I could go,” Coste said. “I really wanted her to be a part of the baseball life and eventually to the stage where she retrieves bats.”
David Samson/The Forum
For the 2024 season, Coste hopes Summer can be a bat dog for the group in some capability throughout video games.
“She does it now, just not at game speed yet,” Coste said of bat retrievable. “She loves baseballs, but her favorite thing is a baseball bat so that’s pretty cool.”
For this season, Summer is mainly on the field throughout the pregame, lineup card exchanges and the Star Spangled Banner. During the video game, Summer invests the majority of the time in the training workplace or clubhouse, however has actually made some quick in-game cameos in the dugout.
Summer, who simply turned one years of age, is likewise on the group bus for trip.
“I’m a dog lover to begin with, I think most guys on the team are,” said RedHawks shortstop Sam Dexter. “It’s a fun thing around the team. It’s a good, fun thing for the team.”
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Summer isn’t the only dog around the group this summer season. Right field
John Silviano has a Merle American Bully called Onyx
, who he likewise had throughout last season. Onyx likewise makes trip to with the group.
“She loves John Silviano,” Coste said of Summer.
In recent seasons, the RedHawks have had a dog around the team in some capacity.
“I will never, ever not have a team dog,” Coste said. “I would recommend every manager in professional baseball to have a dog somewhere around.”
Coste said he asked about business around the nation about service dogs prior to one in San Diego linked him with Summer.
Other than periodic usage of the outfield yard to go to the restroom minutes prior to the start of a couple of video games, Coste joked, Summer has actually been well acted around the ballpark. She likewise brings a marketing aspect. The group and Coste have actually had social networks posts with images of Summer around the ballpark.
“In minor league baseball, you’re always trying to find ways to engage the fan base outside of the play on the field,” Renz said. “The product on the field is really good, but it’s another way of promoting the team while also allowing us to have a fun-filled environment throughout the year.”
The St. Paul Saints — a previous American Association franchise and now Minnesota Twins affiliate — have actually had a ball pig to provide baseballs to the home plate umpire for years. The Lake Country DockHounds have actually just recently utilized bat dogs, too, for choose video games.
Dexter said having Summer and Onyx around the group is an example of a tone Coste has actually set as supervisor.
“It’s pet friendly, it’s family friendly,” Dexter said. “I think that’s just the culture that Coste has created with the whole team. Everyone is included, everyone is involved.”
Peterson covers college sports for The Forum, consisting of Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He likewise covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball group and assists with North Dakota State football protection. Peterson has actually been operating at the paper considering that 1996.
