Weaver, AL – A chance encounter Smith’s talents were displayed in front of the right people and the Weaver star will be given the opportunity to be a part of Wallace State-Hanceville.
by Joe Medley
Elijah Smith has the skills to be able to be seated at a table that is dotted with his memorabilia from the game and put on an official Wallace State-Hanceville cap prior to Weaver’s student body on Tuesday and a chance meeting led him to where he is today.
Right batting cage, at the right timing.
Smith went to Oxford along with his former Jacksonville State player Lenn Coffey enjoyed what he witnessed as Smith suffered cuts in the cage.
“He approached me and told me how he can tell if I’m going to hit by swinging just once,” Smith said. “He asked me whether there were any opportunities and I said”no sir. I was asked if wanted to have one I replied, yes sir.
“He told me he would be contact with the Wallace State coach. Wallace State.”
The result was Smith having the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities during an Wallace State practice. Wallace State coach Randy Putman gave him the opportunity, Smith said. Smith accepted and brought home the Wallace State cap.
Tuesday’s ceremony honored his dedication and acceptance. The official signing ceremony will take place later.
The speakers included Weaver Head Coach Jeremy Harper and assistant coach Jake Crain. Harper spoke about Smith’s .519 per-inning batting average, and his more than 300 career hits, dating all the way to Smith’s breakthrough in varsity in seventh grade.
“That’s an amazing feat in the context of the competition we face,” Harper said. “Piedmont is within our area. Phil Campbell, the playoff game, he scored five hits over the course of two games, and he was playing against the team likely to play in the State Championship.”
Smith evidently has a an edge. He just wanted to be noticed.
Coffey who was a player in 1992 at JSU in 1992 as well as minor-league baseball from Sarasota, Fla., before injuries cut short his playing time, resides within Oxford as well. He was there to visit one of his friends in the bat cages. Pings peaked Coffey’s curiosity.
In Smith He found an enthusiastic player who is willing to learn.
“I went over there and I thought”He’s a good hit and hit,’ and it started to happen,” said Coffey, an area manager at Minnesota’s Replenex, Inc., an industrial distributor. “I noticed some issues which I rectified and he began hitting better. …
“He was listening to him, which is about 90% of it. You pay attention to the coach and he explains what you should do and you follow through.”
Coffey is always looking for players who could benefit Putman’s team, and he contacted his friend regarding Smith. Smith was then offered the chance to take part in a practice at Wallace State and he viewed it as the practice he would have at Weaver.
“They were practicing scenarios from real life,” Smith said. “When I decided to for a workout with them, I saw their competition the following month, Shelton State, and I was also with them playing.
“I did exactly what I do every day. I was not nervous and afraid to take the field. … I felt very comfortable in playing field.”
After the practice, Smith sat down in the office of Putnam.
“He told me he is very impressed with how fast my hands are, and the smoothness of them and the bat speed I possess,” Smith said. “He told me the only thing that surprised him was that I didn’t feel afraid to step onto the field and do what I normally do.” Then he said, “[…] Read more stories about sports…]
