University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Smith Brings Steady Presence in the Circle
3/28/2019 9:46:00 AM | Softball
Sydney Smith has been a household name in the Minnesota softball community since her days of dominating in the circle for Maple Grove High School.
Smith amassed a 54-1 high school record helping Maple Grove to four consecutive conference and section championships. She was a two-time winner of the Minnesota Gatorade Softball and Metro Player of the Year. The local star spent two seasons at LSU before coming back home for her junior and senior seasons. Being back home has been special for the local star.
"I get a lot of younger girls that have known me through high school and it's cool to see them inspiring to get to the level that we are at right now," Smith said. "It's cool to see that softball is continuing to grow. We play for them."
It is no secret that the Gophers spend the first two months of the season of the road, but Jane Sage Cowles Stadium has turned into one of the hottest tickets in town throughout the springtime in Minnesota. The Gophers have had sellout crowds over 1,100 on 10 different occasions with a record game of 1,383 fans in attendance. All those have been in the past four seasons alone.
"The games sellout, the crowds are supportive and it's just cool to be around the people that support you no matter what the ups and downs are," the senior pitcher said. "You can't beat playing at home."
Smith wasted no time finding her role with the Gophers. She has provided the team with one of the strongest one-two punches in the country alongside Amber Fiser. The Gophers pitching staff returned all five pitchers from a season ago and has a combined ERA of 1.88 with 22 wins and 227 strikeouts this season.
"It's nice to have a staff," Smith said. "We are all so different and all bring something different to the table. I think that's tough for hitters to come up and face us knowing they have to prepare for five different people. It's cool to know that anybody can go out there and give us a chance to win."
Smith has been hitting stride as the season goes on. She is 7-3 with a 2.42 ERA and 59 strikeouts. She set a new career high this year with 11 strikeouts in a single game twice and has also came up with two big saves.
The biggest weekend of the year so far for Minnesota came on the road against a top-10 Texas team. Smith locked down a win in the circle to start the weekend and two days later the Gophers knocked off the Longhorns again. Smith is the only player on the team with super regional and World Series experience and has used that to become a steady leader for her teammates.
"I keep the same energy no matter what. (Coach Jamie Trachsel) always tells me she can't tell whether I'm having a good or bad day," Smith said. "I try to keep us calm when we need to be. Being a senior and having that kind of experience has helped me grow into the kind of player that I want to be. I want to show that no matter what, it's still a game at the end of the day. If the worst thing that happens is we lose a game then we are doing pretty well."
Smith amassed a 54-1 high school record helping Maple Grove to four consecutive conference and section championships. She was a two-time winner of the Minnesota Gatorade Softball and Metro Player of the Year. The local star spent two seasons at LSU before coming back home for her junior and senior seasons. Being back home has been special for the local star.
"I get a lot of younger girls that have known me through high school and it's cool to see them inspiring to get to the level that we are at right now," Smith said. "It's cool to see that softball is continuing to grow. We play for them."
It is no secret that the Gophers spend the first two months of the season of the road, but Jane Sage Cowles Stadium has turned into one of the hottest tickets in town throughout the springtime in Minnesota. The Gophers have had sellout crowds over 1,100 on 10 different occasions with a record game of 1,383 fans in attendance. All those have been in the past four seasons alone.
"The games sellout, the crowds are supportive and it's just cool to be around the people that support you no matter what the ups and downs are," the senior pitcher said. "You can't beat playing at home."
Smith wasted no time finding her role with the Gophers. She has provided the team with one of the strongest one-two punches in the country alongside Amber Fiser. The Gophers pitching staff returned all five pitchers from a season ago and has a combined ERA of 1.88 with 22 wins and 227 strikeouts this season.
"It's nice to have a staff," Smith said. "We are all so different and all bring something different to the table. I think that's tough for hitters to come up and face us knowing they have to prepare for five different people. It's cool to know that anybody can go out there and give us a chance to win."
Smith has been hitting stride as the season goes on. She is 7-3 with a 2.42 ERA and 59 strikeouts. She set a new career high this year with 11 strikeouts in a single game twice and has also came up with two big saves.
The biggest weekend of the year so far for Minnesota came on the road against a top-10 Texas team. Smith locked down a win in the circle to start the weekend and two days later the Gophers knocked off the Longhorns again. Smith is the only player on the team with super regional and World Series experience and has used that to become a steady leader for her teammates.
"I keep the same energy no matter what. (Coach Jamie Trachsel) always tells me she can't tell whether I'm having a good or bad day," Smith said. "I try to keep us calm when we need to be. Being a senior and having that kind of experience has helped me grow into the kind of player that I want to be. I want to show that no matter what, it's still a game at the end of the day. If the worst thing that happens is we lose a game then we are doing pretty well."
Highlights: Gophers 5, SIUE 0
Tuesday, March 10
Highlights: Gophers 4, Indiana 6
Sunday, March 08
Highlights: Gophers 2, Indiana 0
Friday, March 06
Highlights: Gophers 6, Central Michigan 1
Saturday, February 21