Oxford, AL – Vipers go into break 2-11, but the always cheerful Smith offers her unwavering support to teammates: “I believe that we’ve got it in us’
Joe Medley Joe Medley
Makena Smith speaks. From the very first pitch to the final pitch, and from preceding pitch to the following pitch, she’s Smash It Sports Vipers hot-corner auctioneer full of passion.
She has each pitcher’s name reduced to one word. Amber Fiser is “Ber,” Sierra Hyland “Si” and Meghan Schorman “Meg.”
The pitch looks great? “Like it, Ber!”
Batter walks? “So what, Meg!”
Pitcher grinding? “You work, we work, Si!”
Third out? Smith is standing along the third base line, and players are gathered around her on the route into the dugout.
Scoreboard, schmoreboard. That’s the player, she says in her the sound of a frown in the midst of seven innings softball for women’s professional.
A breath that isn’t spoken is useless, and it’s impossible to put it on.
“It’s mostly for my teammates,” the rookie from Cal stated. “I recognize that I am grateful the time when people shout to me..
“I would like to believe that, when I was a child singing was probably the most important aid to me in getting around.”
What’s the term to describe the Vipers in the midst of their journey into the week-long break between games, with an overall record of 2-11?
Her lower left arm was being wrapped in ice as a result of a collision during her last game on Monday, she tried her best to minimize this pain … to help her team.
“Obviously that we’re not having the most positive beginning to our season but we have plenty of time to play,” she said. “I believe we’ve got the ability to do it. Things will go in our direction for sure.”
Bet that Smith believes in it even though the Vipers lost a series sweep in the 3rd-place Pride (5-9) as well as went on to finish last within the 4-team WPF.
As a bright spot first-round draft selection Ashley Rogers, who pitched Tennessee to win the women’s College World Series, will be available following the break. The Vipers have kept her as part of a conditioning program after the college season and now her time is here.
“We’re seeking her to help us boost,” Vipers general manager Don DeDonatis said. “She’ll return. She’ll throw in the first game. She’s been throwing long toss in addition, she’s stretched. She’s made it through it fine.
“We did not want to test anything now prior to (the holiday). If you can have an extra period of five to six weeks, why wouldn’t you want to wait?”
Rogers is ready with the Vipers are waiting for the results of an MRI of Annie Willis, who suffered an injury that Vipers head coach Gerry Glasco called an “arm injury” during their 6-1 loss against the Pride on Sunday.
As evident by their the home defeats of 8-3, 6-1 and 8-0 against the WPF’s last-place team, the Vipers have a lot to do to improve their first season back in Oxford. In addition they require direction.
That’s the one thing DeDonatis believed when the Vipers selected Smith at the 4th round of the April draft.
“That’s another of the main reasons for us to look at her and decided to get her on board,” DeDonatis said. “She’s an effective leader. She’s certainly a gamer.”
The only way to listen to Smith’s sound is whenever she takes bats in the box. She let her walk-up music speak for her.
In fact, she let “Cold Like Ice” talk to her but is not the first Foreigner version. She takes on Alvin And the Chipmunks, from The Squeakquel.
“I experienced it in college and it makes me feel pumped and that’s the way I feel about me,” she said. “It’s an excellent evocation of what I feel about being inside this box.”
She gets her inspiration from the team of Alvin believes in herself, and Smith is determined to inspire her team members. She was sure to overcome what was perhaps the most damaging break that has afflicted Vipers fans. Vipers in the current season.
She hammered a game-winning home hit in the seventh inning in the series with the Oklahoma City Spark. The ball was able to appear to fly straight above the pole that was foul.
The officials ruled it to be a foul ball and the Vipers fell 3-2 and missed the chance of winning their first win in a series in the league.
If Smith says that things will going the Vipers way, it’s more than just a flimsy remark. She’s been tested on her faith more than anyone else who’s on their roster.
“That’s an accurate description of what our season has gone,” she added. “It’s as if every call that could be at the border or ought to be ours does not. …
“I believe that, following the break, when we’ve had a rest, and the players return and improve their health We’ll be in a good position to go out with an eye on the prize and I’m confident that we’ll be able to do it.”
