Former Bison, RedHawks star pitcher Jake Laber dies

090214.S.FF_12150751.JPG — Officials from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball team confirmed Monday, Aug. 15, that former RedHawks pitcher Jake Laber has died. (Forum News Service file photo)

By Jeff Kolpack

August 15, 2016 08:43 AM

FARGO-Jake Laber, the all-time pitching wins leader in Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball history, has died, the team confirmed on Monday morning, Aug. 15. He was 30.

RedHawks general manager Josh Buchholz said he didn't know the cause of death, but friends of Laber indicate it was unexpected.

RedHawks manager Doug Simunic said Laber had begun treatments for a curable form of cancer. Laber was a Fargo North High School and North Dakota State University graduate.

"We've had this long line of finding the best local talent," Buchholz said. "And it probably starts back with Chris Coste. A guy like Jake is right up there with the all-time greats in our franchise. Off the field, you couldn't ask for a nicer guy."

Laber has the team career records of 46 wins and 102 starts.

"Such a tragedy." Simunic said. "I'm speechless to the point of where I don't know what to say. Such a young guy."

Related Topics: BASEBALL

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.

Former Bison, RedHawks star pitcher Jake Laber dies

FARGO--Jake Laber, the all-time pitching wins leader in Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball history, has died, the team confirmed on Monday morning, Aug. 15. He was 30.