Center fielder center of offense

    A double, a triple, three home runs, four runs, three stolen bases and 10 RBIs. With numbers like these in just four games, junior center fielder Matt Smith dominates the field of hitting for the Triton baseball team.

    Courtesy of UCSD Athletics

    Smith, who bats second in the lineup, is performing at the top of his game and has earned California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week honors. As a sophomore last year, he led the team in sacrifice bunts. This year he leads in most of the offensive categories, including at-bats, home runs and stolen bases.

    Head coach Dan O’Brien is pleased with Smith’s performance so far this year, and looks to him as a team leader and explosive hitter.

    “”We have a different offensive approach this year,”” O’Brien said. “”Matt is one of our best players and always has been. In previous years, he was more of a quiet player, laying down sacrifice bunts, but now he is no longer a secret weapon. The competition knows his strengths. We are looking to Matt to drive the ball for us this year. He is the kind of player every coach and teammate makes a comment about after each practice and game because he works so hard.””

    But this team captain’s early success has not gone to his head.

    “”Matt Smith the ball player hasn’t changed. He still is one of the hardest-working guys I know,”” commented sophomore catcher Jeff Riddle. “”He still gets to the field early and stays late. He is still a strong leader on the team. Matt is the same hard working, excellent ball player last year that he is this year.””

    Trailing 4-1 in the fifth inning against Point Loma University last Friday, Smith smacked a three-run shot to tie the game. In the seventh, Smith came through again and blasted a solo shot to right field to even the score for a second time.

    The following day, the center fielder knocked a grand slam — his third home run in two games — against Concordia University to lift UCSD to an 11-5 victory.

    He went 4-for-5 with a triple, a home run and five RBIs in the game.

    “”I’m seeing the ball really well,”” Smith said. “”When they throw me a good pitch, I take advantage. On the grand slam, there was one out and I really was just looking for an up ball to hit a sacrifice fly, but I connected and the wind just took it out.””

    In this four-game, three-day homestand, Smith went 9-for-17 — a batting average of .529. His overall slugging percentage of .957 proves that he is an offensive threat to all opposing teams.

    “”Home runs are always exciting in a game, especially when we need the runs, but it is what Matt does to prepare for the games that boosts the team. He works hard day in and day out, so the fact that he hit three home runs this weekend is no surprise,”” noted Riddle. “”I have no doubt in my mind that Matt will continue to do what he did this weekend throughout the whole year based on how he approaches the game and how he prepares for the competition.””

    But that kind of pressure to do consistently well has little effect on Smith.

    “”There’s a little pressure to continue this kind of hitting. My teammates make fun of me sometimes, calling me a power hitter,”” Smith joked. “”But I just want to continue making solid contact with the ball.””

    Smith not only performs on the field; he also assumes a leadership role in every situation he encounters.

    “”Every team needs a player like Matt. He leads by example and comes through in the clutch,”” O’Brien remarked.

    “”[Throughout the past five months of training], Matt has shown me what it takes to be successful at the college level,”” said freshman infielder Keith Hernandez. “”His aggressive mentality rubs off on the team, and his clutch hits fired up the team and changed the momentum in the ball games. His determination and leadership in practice not only make him successful, but improve the team dynamic as well.””

    Riddle agrees.

    “”When the team sees a guy working hard like Matt does — on and off the field — it pushes the rest of us to work hard, too. Matt carries his leadership, confidence, passion and integrity off the field with him and into the classroom and social situations. He’s just an all-around great guy, and his success is something the rest of us can learn from and build on,”” Riddle said.

    Riding on the home-run-blasting heels of Smith, the Triton baseball team prepares to face CCAA competition this week.

    “”We are ready for CCAA play this week,”” O’Brien said. “”We have all the potential to be a great team. We’re playing well and haven’t even reached our full potential.””

    Smith and the Triton baseball team open their season at home Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against California State University Los Angeles.

    “”The team is excited to start conference play. We are a much better defensive unit this year, and our pitching staff is exceptional,”” Smith said. “”We are ready to go and face the competition.””

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