DeKalb, Illinois
New Image won the 2012 Hustlehog Icebreaker Tournament.
We hope that eventually we can expand on our current eight teams. Hopefully you can join us for the 2013 edition the first weekend in May.
New Image defeated the DeKalb Hogs 9-0 in the championship after defeating Rockford 10-3 in the semifinal. Nate Berg was named Most Valuable Player and Jeremy Holman was named Most Outstanding Pitcher for the tournament. Harvey Knudson and Chance Schmitt joined their teammates on the all-tournament team.
The Hogs defeated Bloomington 2-1 in the first round of the Sunday playoffs. The Hogs scored both runs on great hustle plays as Tom Crouch scored from first base on a single from Brian Tobin to score the first run of the game in the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Brandon Elmer snuck into home while Bloomington's catcher and Hog teammate, Aaron Leahy, were tangled up in a collision at the plate to give the Hogs the lead 2-1. Bryan Lathrop was outstanding for the Hogs again in the game.
The Hogs then defeated Aurora 7-1 in the semifinal. Aaron Leahy and Tom Crouch homered in this one. Crouch broke a 0-0 tie in the fifth with his and Leahy hit a three run shot in the top of the seventh to give the Hogs the lead for good. They scored three more after Leahy's bomb. Lathrop again got the win.
New Image jumped out on the Hogs in the top of the first of the championship game and never looked back.
Congratulations to all the teams. It was a nice tournament.
All Tournament Team (Hogs in bold and stats included):
Jeremy Holman P (New Image)
Bryan Lathrop P (Hogs) 27IP 46K 1BB 4ER
Ales Jetmar P (Aurora)
Nate Berg OF (New Image)
Aaron Leahy OF (Hogs) 5x14 HR 4RBI
Adrian Thomas OF (Rockford)
Harvey Knudson IF (New Image)
Jessi Booth IF (Rockford)
Chance Schmitt IF (New Image)
Tom Crouch IF (Hogs) 9x19 3HR 11RBI
Karl Gollan IF (Des Moines)
Mike Drew DP (Aurora)
Greg Punke UT (Bloomington)
The Hogs next travel to Rockford on Saturday for a RR with Rockford and Granite City.
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Les