10/06/2026
Line Drive Players & Parents,
What a weekend.
Congratulations to every one of you on winning the Future Stars Monster Mash Championship. Winning a championship is always something to be proud of, but what impressed me most wasn’t the trophy.
It was HOW we won it.
This weekend we played amazing TEAM baseball. We played the game the way it was designed to be played, and most importantly, we played Line Drive Lumberjack baseball.
We ran. We bunted. We faked. We put pressure on defenses. We forced teams to execute. We picked each other up. We took momentum away when the other team thought they had it. We didn’t wait around for someone to hit a three-run homer and save us.
We drove teams crazy because everyone on this roster was willing to do whatever the situation required.
That’s why this program has consistently been successful.
And when I look back at this weekend, almost every player had a moment that helped us get there.
Ty Rutzmoser — Excellent job coming in relief when we needed you, and that bat is still smoking. You continue to give us quality at-bats and find ways to help this team.
Avery Kabrick — What a play. After the other team had just put three runs on the board and grabbed the momentum, you laid out for a monster fly ball and saved two more runs. That play was HUGE. We came right back and put up three of our own and took the momentum right back. That’s how one defensive play can change a baseball game.
Logan — You pitched a gem against a very good hitting team and then contributed in a big way offensively. That’s complete baseball.
Tanner “Tank” Fronina — What a weekend. Huge in your start on the mound, came into the championship and shut them down, and your bat was absolutely sick all weekend. But maybe my favorite moment? Our cleanup hitter—certainly not known for playing small ball and running—lays down a walk-off bunt in the championship game! Even better, after plenty of coaching throughout the weekend about running the bases hard, you busted your tail and stretched a hit into a double. That’s growth. That’s listening. That’s becoming a better baseball player.
Blake Burdick — You stepped onto the mound in the championship game and dealt. You limited the free passes, hit your spots and competed. Add in some huge RBI opportunities and solid defensive plays, and you made your impact felt everywhere.
Josh Carrasco — You’ve joined us to help fill in, but you have fit into the Line Drive style tremendously well. Hit when we need you to hit, execute small ball, play defense and understand what the situation calls for. You have been a great addition to this group.
Tanner Kuder — WOW. Absolutely on fire at the plate this weekend. But here’s what I love even more about Tanner: there were a couple plays that I promise he would tell you he should have made. It didn’t change his attitude. It was immediately, “What’s next, and how can I help my team?” And help you did. This kid will play anywhere we need him because that’s what his team needs.
Shiloh Dritt — You stepped up defensively for us this weekend, but I was especially proud of what you did behind the plate in the championship. You took on a pitcher you haven’t completely gelled with yet and accepted the challenge. Together, you guys figured it out. That’s an important lesson for a catcher. Catching isn’t just receiving and blocking pitches. It’s learning your pitcher, communicating, building confidence and figuring out how to help each other succeed. Pitcher/catcher chemistry is incredibly important. As you continue learning this staff, I can’t wait to see where it goes.
And then there was Jessie Neupauer.
Jessie was absolutely dominant on the mound in the semifinal—a place he’s pretty accustomed to being.
But what happened later may have provided the biggest lesson of the entire weekend for every player on this team.
Jessie had a tough weekend at the plate. Not because of talent, but because of approach and mentality. We’ll work on it. That’s what practice is for.
But baseball has a funny way of finding you again.
Late in a huge game, we’re down a few runs. Bases loaded. Two outs.
Jessie comes to the plate.
He quickly goes down 0-2 and, at that moment, looks lost.
The message was simple:
Be confident. Go get it.
And man, did he get it.
He absolutely smoked a double to the fence and drove in two runs.
Players, remember that moment.
Never lose faith. Never lose confidence. Never get so down on yourself that you aren’t ready when baseball gives you another opportunity.
You never know when your team is going to need you.
That’s the beauty of TEAM baseball.
On the days when I’m struggling, I have teammates to pick me up. Then, when my opportunity comes, I get a chance to pick them up.
That’s exactly what happened all weekend.
One guy pitches. Another guy gets the bunt down. Someone makes a diving catch. Someone drives in a run. Someone steals a base. Someone moves a runner. Someone blocks a ball. Someone picks up a teammate after a mistake.
And eventually all those little moments become something much bigger.
A championship.
There is one more thing from this weekend that deserves to be recognized, and as your coach, it may be one of the things I am most proud of.
We were challenged in more ways than just baseball.
There were moments when another team tried to get under our skin. Things were said. We were insulted and challenged. There were opportunities for us to react, lose our composure and allow someone else to take us away from the way we play the game.
We didn’t.
We maintained our professionalism. We showed sportsmanship. We stayed together, and instead of answering with words or allowing emotions to take over, we answered with our play.
That is something every player on this team should be proud of.
Anybody can show good sportsmanship when everything is going their way. Character shows when someone gives you a reason not to.
You represented yourselves, your families, your teammates and the Line Drive name the right way.
And then you handled your business between the lines.
That’s Line Drive baseball.
We run.
We bunt.
We fake.
We pressure.
We compete.
We make you execute.
We drive you crazy.
We respect the game.
We respect our opponent.
And most importantly…
WE PLAY FOR EACH OTHER.
I’m extremely proud of how you represented Line Drive this weekend.
Enjoy the championship—you earned it.
But remember why you earned it.
It wasn’t one player.
It wasn’t one big hit.
It wasn’t one pitcher.
It was everybody doing their job, accepting their role, keeping their composure and being ready when their moment came.
That was a pure TEAM VICTORY.
Excellent, excellent job this weekend, Lumberjacks.
Coach Jerry
Line Drive Sports Academy
