By Brandon Burke, UT Martin Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – One of the brightest young stars littered throughout the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team, sophomore speedster Will Smith was rewarded for a stellar campaign last spring by making the 16-player cut for 2022 preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference status, announced by league officials on Thursday afternoon.
A 6’3″ infielder who primarily holds the second-baseman spot for the Skyhawks, Smith sits as one of the most exciting players for head coach Ryan Jenkins‘ squad awaiting year #5 as the UTM commander, starting 38 games as a collegiate rookie on a .250 batting average.
The 2021 Skyhawk leader in stolen bases (five) and assists (99) during his true freshman stint, the Prattville, Alabama native recorded six doubles, a pair of triples, five homers, and 20 RBI one year ago. Additionally, Smith’s 29 runs scored ranked as the second-highest on a roster that finished 19-29 overall.
Going for nine multi-hit performances while simultaneously grabbing more than one RBI in seven different outings, Smith’s best individual showing of 2021 came on March 27th against Grambling State when the freshman boomed a career-best-tying three hits next to a walk, while also posting a separate career-high of four runs scored with two RBI. Smith had previously landed three hits in a sole outing vs. Southern Illinois 20 days prior.
Finishing last season with seven multi-run dates, Smith careened a season-long six-game hitting streak near the end of March over a ten-day period, hitting .385 (10 for 26) across that stretch. On two separate occasions, the new All-OVC member drew three walks in a single day – vs. Arkansas State on Feb. 27th and North Alabama on March 9th – scooping up eight RBI whenever a base-runner stood on third with less than two outs.
UT Martin’s 51-game journey will begin next Friday for a three-game series from the Skyhawks’ house against Miami (Ohio). Following the weekend matchup with the Redhawks, UTM will embark on an eight-game road trip all in the state of Alabama.
The full list of 2022 preseason All-OVC players can be found below:
2022 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Team
C – Jack Alexander (Austin Peay)
1B – Jackson Feltner (Morehead State)
2B – Will Smith (UT Martin)
SS – Tyler Wilber (Southeast Missouri)
3B – Logan Jarvis (Belmont)
OF – John Behrends (Belmont)
OF – Jake Slunder (Murray State)
OF – Brett Johnson (SIUE)
DH – Brady Bunten (SIUE)
UT – Logan Eickhoff (Eastern Illinois)
UT – Jevon Mason (Southeast Missouri)
SP – Andy Bean (Belmont)
SP – Cameron Doherty (Eastern Illinois)
SP – Drew McIllwain (Austin Peay)
SP – Joshua South (Belmont)
RP – Jacob Pennington (Murray State)
Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Tyler Wilber (SS), Southeast Missouri
Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year: Cameron Doherty (RHP), Eastern Illinois
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information