T-Breds Smith will wear Blue Hose next season
5/13/2008 11:48 PM
By KENTON MAKIN

Staff writer

South Aiken High School's Matt Smith admitted a little nervousness before he signed with Presbyterian College Tuesday but handled it with an innate calmness - and some wisecracks.

"I was expecting a quill and some ink," Smith said about the prestige of signing day as he sat down to sign a letter of intent to play college baseball at PC.

"It's a big step for me," Smith said. "It's an academic school, and to (play) Division I baseball ... to be able to play ball is a great opportunity."

Smith said he was drawn to the Upstate campus because of its similarity to Aiken life.

"I like the campus ... it had a small-town college atmosphere that reminded me of Aiken," he said. "They're about to build a new stadium, got to meet the staff a good bit ... I just fell in love with it."

Smith, a left-handed pitcher, closed his prep career with a 5-2 home win over Lakeside (Ga.) High School on April 19. He allowed four hits in six innings and also scored a run in the victory.

South Aiken's Thoroughbreds missed the playoffs with a 14-11 mark yet won six of their last seven games.

"After Spring Break, we're playing our best ball, and it's hard to be playing that good, to be on such a streak and not get into the playoffs," Smith said. "It hurt, but we have a young team with a lot of players coming back ... they should be good the next couple of years."

Smith's leadership was one of the reasons for the turnaround - a trait evidenced in his posture and demeanor during Tuesday's signing. It's also a trait that South Aiken coach Bob Polewski recognized in Smith as well.

"First of all, Matt has a leadership quality (that) keeps (him) going forward," Polewski said. "(Baseball) is game is a game of failure, but he bounces back.

"I've seen him in the dugout where the kids get down on themselves, and he picked them up," Polewski added. "That's the leadership quality you want in an upperclassman, and for something like this to happen to him is a great situation."

According to Matt's father Randy and mother Joanne, Presbyterian also recognized Matt's leadership qualities.

The school offered Matt a leadership scholarship in conjunction with the opportunity to compete on the field for the Blue Hose.

"They award him the scholarship, and I tell him 'I think they want you to come to school here,'" Randy said with a hearty chuckle. "I think they're trying to say 'We'd really love to have you here'.

"It all seemed to come together (for Matt)," Randy added. "It's a perfect fit, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that it remains a perfect fit."

Matt's parents expressed that both of their son's dreams came true - to play college baseball and to matriculate in Clinton.

"Since he was 4 years old playing tee ball, this is what he wanted to do," Joanne said. "This is his dream, and we're happy for him."

"Presbyterian works out perfect because that just isn't where we wanted to play ball," Randy added. "That's where he wanted to go to school."

PC baseball will enter its second year of D-I competition next spring while continuing the high standards that come with being a liberal arts college.

It's that type of versatility, according to Polewski, that fits Smith to a tee.

"It's a rising program and academically it's a difficult school, which says a lot for how well-rounded he is," Polewski said. "That primarily comes from his family and their support of him ... hopefully I played a small part as his coach."

Hearing it from Randy, Polewski played a much larger role in Matt's on-the-field upbringing.

"He's the best thing ever happened to the baseball program at South Aiken," Randy said. "He's going to make (this school) do good things."

"He's our third child that's gone throughout South Aiken. ... It's kind of bittersweet," Joanne added. "I'll be crying at graduation. ... South Aiken is kind of like our second home."

Matt's older sisters Caroline and Catherine graduated from South Aiken previously, which formulated the Smiths' allegiance to Thoroughbred athletics and the like.

Polewski cited such positive support as an advancement to the program, as well as confirmation that he's doing what's best for the players.

"When you have people that are supportive of what you're doing ... not only the program and their child, but you as a coach, it helps for a program to grow," Polewski said. "You don't please everybody all the time, but in the big picture when you have people supporting the program and you as an individual, as a coach ... the bad things don't seem that bad, and it keeps you going forward."

Matt will pitch and play utility outfielder for the Blue Hose. In the classroom, he aspires to major in biology.

"On the field, I hope to get in some playing time as a freshman," Matt said. "By the time I'm a junior or senior, I hope to be a starter and be able to complete.

"Off the field, I'm going to be a biology major with a minor in chemistry," he added. "Presbyterian's opening a pharmacy school in 2010, so I'm hoping to stay up there, make the dean's list."

"I'm proud of him and all our players," Polewski added. "For one of our players to progress as a student is great, but to have the opportunity to be a student-athlete ... that's the cherry on top of the cake. It says something for his commitment in both the classroom and on the baseball field."

---

Notice about comments:
AikenStandard.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. AikenStandard.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not AikenStandard.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Full terms and conditions can be read here.

---