Kirtland coach Luke Smrdel gave his players a unique homework assignment that paid dividends in a 14-4 five-inning win over visiting Brooklyn on Tuesday.
In an effort to get his players to understand the importance of getting on base to manufacture runs, Smrdel instructed his players to watch the 2011 film Moneyball. In the film, Brad Pitt stars as Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, who used an analytical approach to winning a divisional title and setting an American League record with 20 straight wins.
The Hornets went out and scored 14 runs on just seven hits against the Hurricanes.
“The big thing we’ve been talking about is really just manufacturing runs,” Smrdel said. “We want to get guys on base, so I told them all the go watch the movie Moneyball and see how the on-base percentage thing works and they’re starting to get it a little bit. Hopefully, we can just keep getting runners on base and manufacturing runs.”
Kirtland drew 10 walks and recorded three extra-base hits in the win.
“It was nice to see these young guys getting more comfortable in their roles,” Smrdel said. “It’s team baseball. We win as a team and we lose as a team. Do your part and we’ll be OK.”
Gage Sullivan and Pierce Boyd led the charge as both finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Boyd recorded two doubles and Sullivan tripled.
Tommy Gogolin, Mason Rus, and Luke Chuko also had hits for the Hornets.
Rus went the distance on the hill.
He allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out seven in the five-inning complete-game victory.
Kirtland travels to Grand Valley on Thursday.
