Smith finishes career as a First Team All-American
June 07, 2011
Kansas City, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2011 NAIA Baseball All-Americans; LSU Shreveport's first baseman Kevin Smith was selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) All-America Selection Committee to the First Team. Smith was also selected a pre-season All-American this season.Seventeen players were selected to each the First and Second Teams, while 36 other players were honorable mentions.
Smith, a senior from Tacoma, Washington, played is final games in a Pilot uniform not too far from home at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho, in the 2011 Avista-NAIA World Series. The left hander homered in his second to last at bat in his collegiate career.
"It felt great when I hit it and I knew I got all of it. It's unfortunate that it couldn't have come at a better time for us. There was a chance that it was going to be my last at-bat if we didn't rally, but I got another chance," said Smith. He grounded out in his last at-bat as the Pilots ended their run at the Avista-NAIA World Series.
Smith had an outstanding senior-season as he led the Pilots to their second overall appearance in the Avista-World Series and their first since 2003. The LSUS squad before making the trip to Idaho, won the Red River Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships before blasting through the Opening Round Bracket in Montgomery, Alabama, setting an Opening Round record with 32 runs in the final game against Auburn University at Montgomery to earn a berth at the World Series.
On the year Smith had a batting average of .437 with 16 home runs and 72 runs batted in. All three statistics landed the slugging first baseman on the Single Season record list. His .437 average ties him for 4th with teammate Andrew Brouillette (2010). The 16 long balls also ties him for 4th spot on the list with Kevin Ross who launched the same number back in 1998. Smith is also in the 4th spot in the single season record book with his 72 RBI this season.
Smith also finishes with an outstanding career in a Pilot uniform with a career batting average of .414 and is at the top of the career list knocking off Brouillette who finished with an even .400 average. Smith's numbers are based on two seasons while Brouillette's numbers are accumulated from four seasons. Smith is also third on the single season record book with a .826. He also is second with a .875 from last season.
Smith also is in the LSUS' career record book in the following: 2nd in home runs with 35 as he passes Brent Lavallee (28, 2005-2009), 2nd in RBI with 161 as he also passes Lavallee who had 142 in four seasons, tied for 4th with 11 triples with Rock Cunningham (1997-1999), and 3rd with 318 total bases.
"It was a privilege having Kevin on our team for two seasons. It is impressive the numbers that he put up in two seasons but more importantly he is the mold that you wished all players came from; he is a hard worker, responsible, and a pleasure to have in the dugout. He will be missed but will always be a Pilot and sets high standards for those that follow him," said LSUS head coach Rocke Musgraves.
For the full story on the All-American Teams click here.
Smith was also selected to the RRAC First Team as well as the RRAC Player of the Year.
