Entertainment

Small ball gets a win

A little movie with a lot of heart, William Dear’s “The Perfect Game” tells the im probable but true story of how a ragtag team from Monterrey, Mexico, became the first non-US team to win the Little League World Series in 1957.

Character actor Clifton Collins Jr., who gave an arresting performance as cold-blooded killer Perry Smith in “Capote,” knocks it out of the park as Cesar Faz, a former clubhouse attendant for the St. Louis Cardinals who coaches the team to victory.

The outcome is never in doubt with that title — admittedly a bit of a spoiler — which commemorates the only perfect game pitched in the history of the series.

His task is not an easy one; the team is too poor to afford uniforms or equipment, until Cesar asks for help from a pal in St. Louis.

The kids have never played baseball before. But under Cesar’s tutelage they’re quick studies, and he unearths a prodigy in Angel (Jake T. Austin), who pitches their way to a quarterfinal game in Texas, which they have to hike across the border on foot to reach.

The comparatively pint-size team encounters racism there — and things only get worse when they land in the regional finals in Louisville, Ky.

But there are more supportive North Americans along the way, including an aged former Negro League player (Lou Gossett Jr.) and his generous minister son, as well as a spunky female sportswriter (Emilie de Ravin) with a sexist boss (David Koechner).

This inspirational film, written by first-timer (and producer) W. William Winokur, is not for cynics or those resistant to cute kids (and child actors sometimes given to mugging).

Will Angel’s disapproving father come around? Will Cesar change his pitching rotation to clinch the Big Game? Will his former boss from St. Louis (Bruce McGill) offer him a trip back to the big leagues?

The answers may seem obvious to any adult familiar with sports movies — Dear directed the remake “Angels in the Outfield,” and the rousing score is by Bill (“Rocky”) Conti.

But the film’s flaws probably won’t bother less jaded kids one whit.