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First Row, Left to Right: Bryan Lathrop, Jeramie Holman, Steve Krupke, Harvey Knutson, Adam Bussan, Brent Holman
Second Row: Todd Burlage, Jeff Jahn, Joe Benash, Shelby Blindert, Kris Agnew
Image paints perfect picture
By TODD ENGLE - H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - The image of fast-pitch softball is of a game dominated by pitching, strategy and defense.
But leave it to the aptly-named New Image to give the game...drum roll please...a new image.
The team from Mount Horeb, Wis., spent the weekend pounding softballs over the temporary fences at Rotary Park. It blasted three more home runs in a 9-1, 5-inning victory over Rudd's Team & Trophy in the championship game of the ASA Men's Class A National Tournament.
Rudd's got to the title game after a nail-biting 1-0 win over Cerro Gordo earlier in the day. But the championship was all but locked up before Rudd's even got a chance to bat.
Rudd's pitcher Mike Reis got the first two outs of the first inning, but two consecutive errors provided the crack of daylight New Image needed.
Adam Busson blasted a three-run homer, and player/manager Jeramie Holman followed up with a solo shot of his own. Brent Holman added a three-run dinger in the top of the second, and the rout was on.
"We've been averaging 100 home runs a season, which is a lot for fast-pitch softball," Jeramie Holman said. "We've got 94 this year, so we're on pace. We're a long-ball hitting team, not small-ball. Once we got a big lead like that, we're deep in pitching, so we can hold on to it."
Rudd had all of about 10 minutes to regroup and refocus after its first victory. It showed with the early errors. New Image also had the good fortune of running into a worn-down Reis. He had thrown 29 innings in the tournament before the final game, 22 of which came in a marathon game against Villa Grove.
"It was tough after the adrenaline rush (of the first win) was over with," manager Terry Rudd said. "We couldn't quite bring it together, I guess."
New Image still has a tournament or two before the season is officially over. But after 11 years in existence, Holman is sure the club is enjoying a season for the ages.
"We're 87-3. It's good karma. Some teams get on each other after mistakes, but we don't do that we get along," Jeramie Holman said. "We won't have a season like this again."