The title of this piece triggered our mawkishness radar: It signals tragedy; we wondered how such tragedy would be handled. Reading, we thought the piece teeters on the edge of too much. But it’s also a powerful story, and it … Read more
Kruse drove with a minor league baseball player from New York State to Florida for Spring training. The player, Alex Trezza, lives his life around baseball, but his chances of playing for the Major League are slim. Kruse’s piece is … Read more
We like Montgomery’s clear structuring of this story and his skillful transitions. He shapes the reader’s sequential experience in the first two sections handily and ends the second section with an exposition of the piece’s issue or theme. He ends … Read more
Kruse has a knack for infusing even his more newsy stories with a non-official, folksy voice. He often achieves a friendly yet authoritative tone. In this piece, his tone is a mix of muted drama, compassion and detachment. It’s an … Read more