Baseball and math might not seem like an obvious pair—but for Westside’s 7th graders, they’re a perfect match.
In math class, students recently explored the world of baseball statistics through a hands-on project that brought numbers to life. Inspired by the classic game Strat-o-matic, which math teacher Kirby Young played with his dad growing up, the project challenged students to think critically about data, probability, and decision-making—all through the lens of one of America’s favorite pastimes.
Students selected real-life players and dug into their career stats: how often they hit singles, doubles, triples, home runs, or drew a walk. They used those numbers to build probability spinners, converting percentages into degrees on a circle. For example, a player with a 3% home run rate would get just 11 degrees on the spinner for that outcome. Then came the fun—teams were formed, spinners were spun, and students watched their math in action as they simulated a full tournament.
One student stood out not just for her math skills, but for her leadership. She completed the project twice—once with the original (not-so-clear) instructions, and again after giving feedback that helped improve the assignment for her classmates. She even created an example to guide others. Along the way, her appreciation for both math and baseball grew.
This project is a great reminder that math isn’t just about numbers on a page—it’s about recognizing patterns, thinking logically, and applying knowledge in meaningful, real-world ways. Whether building a team or calculating probabilities, Westside students are discovering that math truly is everywhere—even on the baseball field.