Kirtland opens the 2023 season with high expectations thanks to the return of five starters from last season and two more players who missed last season with injuries.
The Hornets closed out last season with a 13-12 record overall and a 7-5 mark in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
With so much returning talent, the Hornets have their sights set on returning to the top of the standings in conference play.
“If we play up to our caliber, I think we’ll have a pretty good season,” said Kirtland coach Luke Smrdel. “We have good pitching depth and a good lineup from one to nine, and we’ve got a couple of guys on the bench that can play too. Our defense was really good last year and we’re returning almost everybody, so hopefully, it’s good again.”
Among Kirtland’s returning starters are four who earned All-CVC honors last spring.
Senior Luke Chuko returns behind the plate after earning second-team honors last season when he batted .400 with 17 runs batted in and seven doubles.
“He did a great job hitting for us and defensively,” Smrdel said. “He was the heart and soul of the team behind the plate.”
Senior Tommy Gogolin returns at second base after earning first-team All-CVC honors as a junior. He batted .361 with five doubles and 16 stolen bases.
“He’s a senior leader,” Smrdel said. “He’s a top-of-the-order guy that gets us going. He gets on base and creates problems.”
Sophomore Tyler Turk earned honorable mention all-league honors for his work in centerfield. Turk batted .375 with 15 stolen bases as a freshman.
“Hit close to .400 last year and gave us a spark when we didn’t expect him to,” Smrdel said. “He got in the lineup and ran with it to have a great season. He does a great job on the bases and is a real threat at the top of our order.”
Junior Gino Blasini landed on the All-CVC second-team as a pitcher. He was 3-1 on the mound with a 4.14 earned run average and 30 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. He’ll serve as the ace of the Kirtland pitching staff.
“He had a great season last year,” Smrdel said. “He has a very good arm and definitely knows how to go out there and compete. He wants the ball, but only on odd days, but we’re trying to work in some even days.”
Junior pitcher Aaron Fortuna also earned second-team All-CVC honors last spring, but his availability this season may be limited by an injury.
Junior Macguire Boyd and senior Adam Knaak were starters in 2021 but missed last season with injuries.
Their return bolsters Kirtland’s lineup.
Boyd will play third while Knaak moved to right field from catcher.
“Macguire had a solid season as a freshman two years ago. He’s done a lot of catching, but we moved him to third base after his injury and he’s doing a great job. He has a good bat too,” Smrdel said. “Adam made the transition to the outfield so we could save his knees. He has a big bat and knows the game very well since he was a catcher for most of his life. He’s done a nice job in the outfield and reads the ball very well.
Rounding out the Hornet lineup are sophomore first baseman Matthew Kahley, junior shortstop Trip Thaler, and junior left fielder Will Bates.
Thaler and Bates are returning starters.
“Trip is a very, very good defensive shortstop and pitcher. He has great stuff on the mound and his bat came alive at the end of the year,” Smrdel said. “Bates mainly was our DH last year but will see a lot more time in the outfield this year. He did a lot of work to get himself ready and he’s doing a great job transitioning into the outfield.”
Blasini leads a talented pitching staff that also includes Fortuna, if healthy, sophomore Max Paul, and Thaler.
With a heavy dose of experience returning, the Hornets should be in a position to make a run at the conference title.
“At the end of the day, it just comes down to being consistent,” Smrdel said. “We have to be consistent from one to nine in the order, get on base and use our speed, and just play solid defense throughout the year. If we can limit errors and get guys on base and move them around, we’ll be alright.”
