The postseason started on Friday exactly the way the Kirtland baseball team hoped it would.
The Hornets erupted for nine runs in the opening inning and never looked back in a dominant 15-2 victory over Richmond Heights baseball in a run-rule playoff win.
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Kirtland pounded out 11 hits, worked nine walks, and got strong pitching from three arms to set the tone for what they hope becomes another deep postseason run.
“We have a very deep lineup with many guys that have experience in the postseason,” senior Ben DiFranco said. “We have a lot of guys we can trust with the game on the line.”
That lineup showed its depth immediately.
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Kirtland sent 14 batters to the plate during a massive first inning that put Richmond Heights in an early hole. The Hornets added two more runs in the second and four in the fourth to finish off the lopsided win.
DiFranco led the offensive explosion, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and a double.
“I was working on staying up the middle and hitting the ball backside in batting practice before the game,” DiFranco said. “I was able to translate it to the game for most of my hits.”
The senior also liked the aggressive approach throughout the lineup.
“The team was very aggressive at the plate today, and most of the lineup was able to get a good swing on a ball in the zone,” DiFranco said.
Nate Chuko added a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored and a double, while Tommy Brown doubled and drove in two runs. Jack Turk contributed two RBIs, Sebastian Becker added an RBI, and Carson Kalous drove in another run.
Xavier Lasecki scored three runs, while Chace Gron, Drew Thaler, Lucci Cantini, Nick Cirino, Zach Freeburg, and Noah Conner all reached base and scored during the offensive outburst.
On the mound, Becker was dominant to open the postseason.
The right-hander fired three hitless innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk to earn the win. Thaler worked the fourth inning before Jackson Cramp closed things out with a scoreless fifth inning that included three strikeouts.
Richmond Heights managed just one hit in the game, coming from Phillip Jinks.
Kirtland’s veterans understand postseason baseball only gets tougher from here, but Friday’s fast start provided exactly the kind of momentum the Hornets wanted.
“Setting the tone is very important in the postseason,” DiFranco said. “Last year, we had two dominant wins before the district final, and it gave our guys the confidence to play on the bigger stages. We’re hoping to get the ball rolling and stay hot as a team throughout the playoffs.”
As one of the team’s seniors, DiFranco said the focus now shifts toward handling the challenges that inevitably come during tournament baseball.
“The mindset is to handle adversity and stay sharp,” DiFranco said. “We learned last year that the postseason is not one smooth ride. There are tough innings and lots of great players that we have to get out. We need to be able to handle adversity when other teams’ great players make great plays.”
Top Players
- Ben DiFranco (Kirtland): 4-4, 1 R, 4 RBI, 2B
- Nate Chuko (Kirtland): 2-3, 2 R, 2B
- Sebastian Becker (Kirtland): 3 IP, 0 H, 8 K
- Tommy Brown (Kirtland): 1-2, 2 RBI, 2B
- Jack Turk (Kirtland): 1-2, 1 R, 2 RBI
