GREENVILLE – One of Greenville Lady Wave Softball’s (LWSB) biggest fans, the Honorable Jim Buchy was at Lady Wave Stadium to watch the Lady Wave take on the visiting Sidney Lady Yellow Jackets and win their 21st game of the 2024 regular season.
Buchy, a Greenville native and former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, took time to share his thoughts on the Lady Wave Softball program and its 21 seasons of success under the guidance of veteran Hall of Fame coach Jerrod Newland.
“When Coach Newland teaches the players and instills in them the confidence to be winners, they make the commitments to work hard to get better,” said Buchy. “They know the harder they work, the better the team and individual results.”
“It’s obviously the leadership in the program that was put in place 21 years ago by Coach Newland. He came in here and he made the girls believe right out of the box that they were winners. He told them in his very first meeting that he expected to win 20 games the very first season and they just looked at him because they had never won anything close to that – what did they do, they won 20 games and that’s been the lowest number they’ve won since he’s been here.”
“He set the pace. He’s taught them not only how to be good ball players but also how to be winners. That, plus the fact that most of these players have home lives where parents support them and encourage them to be successful, translates into the classroom; it goes from the classroom to the athletic field.”
“These kids know when they go on the field, they’re going to win,” Buchy continued. “That’s the difference: When you have a winning attitude going in, you have a winner at the end.”
Coach Newland is known for his no-nonsense disciplined approach to the game.
“It’s the old-fashioned way,” noted Buchy. You work hard—here’s how we’re going to do it, and I’m going to help you not only do it but also get better. That’s how you do it.”
“Every class knows. These seniors knew that when they started T-ball and went up, they were looking at the good players ahead of them because they wanted to emulate that success,” Buchy added. They are our future leaders, and I want them all to go away, do what you’re going to do, and then come right back here—make it better.”
When Coach Newland was asked about Mr. Buchy and his support of Lady Wave Softball, he did not know that Mr. Buchy had been questioned about the Lady Wave program before the game. Coach Newland was pleased to give his thoughts on Greenville’s Jim Buchy following the team’s Wednesday night MVL win.
“If it weren’t for Mr. Buchy, the Academy wouldn’t be where it’s at, and Greenville Softball wouldn’t be where it’s at,” said Newland. “I love him to death. He’s a legend. I made a T-shirt 10 years ago, the Greenville Mount Rushmore. It was Jim Buchy, Annie Oakley, Lady Wave Softball trophy, and Matt Light, and we’re just honored to be mentioned with those three people.”
“Mr. Buchy is a legend. What he’s done at the State and Darke County for FFA, youth, kids, and families, he’s priceless; it’s amazing. There are four or five people who have touched me in Greenville in 20 years, and Mr. Buchy is top of that list because he invests in things and people that promote goodness to the community.”
“On my desk at school, I have a stack of notes from Mr. Buchy,” Coach Newland shared. “I get a good one at the beginning of the year, a nice note, and at the end of the year, I get a nice one. It’s what it is all about, the process and journey, but he’s a legend, and Lady Wave Softball would not be what it is, Jarrod Newland would not be who he is, and the Academy would not be what it is without Jim Buchy, and I can’t say enough. He’s out here smiling and loving it and we love him – he’s the man.”
