Senior looking to lead young team

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By Brittany Brownrigg, March 11, 2010

Smith’s first memory of softball was being the pitcher’s helper in coach pitch at five years old. She said that she tried softball because her older sister, Kristy Smith-Gloger, was into the sport.

 

“My sister played (and) I always did the same stuff as her,” she said.

 

Smith sometimes played in older leagues with her sister when she was still younger, which made her a better player.

 

“I’ve always been around the competitiveness,” Smith said. “My sister is four years older than I am and I played with her a couple of times on the same travel team … It was really good competition.”

 

Throughout the times that Smith played softball with her sister she said that they were perfect opposites in every way. Smith was a four-year pitcher at Monrovia High School, and her sister was a catcher.

 

“I would always pitch to her,” Smith said. “Me and my sister are totally opposites. I’m left handed, she’s right handed. I have dark hair, she has light hair. She has blue eyes, I have brown eyes … She’s really talkative, I’m really quiet.”

 

In spite of their differences, Smith and her sister clicked at a young age and have only been growing closer.

 

“She’s my best friend…we’ve always been close,” Smith said. “She went one year to Valparaiso (University)… (and) we knew that we were sisters and that if anything happened we would be there for each other. After she came back from Valpo we got really close.”

 

After one year at Valparaiso, Smith’s sister transferred to Franklin College and played softball as a Grizzly for two years. When the time came for Smith to pick a college she knew that softball needed to remain in her life and she had heard about Franklin from her sister’s experience.

 

“I don’t think I’m ready to give up softball yet,” Smith said of her college decision.

 

Throughout the past three seasons at Franklin Smith has shown that she did not want to give up the sport that she loved. Smith has had success for the Grizzlies along the way and said that softball has been a stress reliever and has put her in situations she truly enjoys.

 

“Being under pressure, I really like that,” Smith said.

 

There are two honors that Smith said she is most proud of that she earned in her collegiate career. Smith earned HCAC All-Conference honors two out of the past three seasons and was also named HCAC Hitter of the Week last season. Smith has also been named a co-captain for this season along with fellow senior Brittany Pullen.

 

“I love softball,” Smith said.

 

Smith said that she has a pregame routine that she has been doing ever since she became a Grizzly. Smith watches “The Longest Yard” the night before every game and has been doing this since her freshman year at Franklin. Smith also chews two pieces of Extra Gum throughout every game. This routine was established when she was much younger.

 

“They all know me by that gum,” Smith said.

 

Smith’s parents have also supported her throughout her softball career. Smith has been battling both on and off the field since last October when her mother, Kimberly Smith, 49, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Smith’s mother had surgery on Feb. 16 and will start radiation soon.

 

“It’s been a rough senior year, but it’s a good learning experience,” Smith said. “I mean it’s brought our family really, really close.”

 

Balancing her mother’s sickness, academics and athletics has taught Smith a lot over the past months.

 

“It’s been a learning experience on something that I’ve never had to do before,” Smith said.

 

Smith said that in spite of the hardships her family has faced over the past few months they have only drawn closer to support her mother.

 

Last weekend the softball team travelled to Georgia to play in a doubleheader against Pikeville College and Smith’s mother was able to be there for tournament. The Grizzlies lost their first game, 6-4, but were able to come back in their second game and win 8-4.

 

Smith is keeping her hopes up for this season saying that one of the keys to success is being able to stay positive.

 

“It’s a really young team,” Smith said. “I think we’ll do pretty good from what I can tell.”

 

  Smith said that her advice for the younger girls on the team is to continue to fight.

               

“Never give up … you can’t ever give up,” Smith said.

 

Smith is expected to graduate this spring with a double major in studio art painting and art history. She said that she would like to be a residential interior designer and stay in the state of Indiana.

 

The softball team will take on Greenville College at home on Monday at 3 p.m.