Freedom's Smith signs with SMC for softball

Credit: Paul Schenkel | The News Herald

Freedom catcher Cassidy Smith recently signed her national letter of intent to play softball at Spartanburg Methodist College next spring. Flanking Smith on the front row are her parents, Wesley Smith (left) and Jennifer Smith; standing (from left) are SMC coach Thad Fox, Richard Smith, Freedom coach Jeff Williams, Wesley Smith Jr., Gerroll Smith and principal Dr. Ken Prichard.

Freedom senior Cassidy Smith will continue her softball playing career at the next level after signing Tuesday to play for former Lady Patriot coach Thad Fox at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Smith is a catcher in her first year at Freedom after moving over from Patton. She sports a varsity career batting average of more than .300 and a fielding percentage of more than .970 behind the plate.

With the Panthers, Smith led the team in RBIs as a sophomore and was the co-leader in home runs as a junior. The two-time All-South Mountain 2A/3A Conference selection is also a member of the Patriots 500-pound weightlifting club.

We have a catcher were losing (in the offseason) to UNC-Wilmington who is the backbone of our defense, said Fox, who has guided the Pioneers within one victory of qualifying for the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series two years running.

I foresee Cassidy being that same type of player, diving all over on defense.

Fox said he first saw Smith play at a camp he ran several years back in Morganton.

She was a sixth or seventh grader, and you could see her ability then, he said. Fundamentally, she had the best swing of all the kids there.

Smith started playing travel ball in fourth grade and catches for the Foothills Phantoms in the high school offseason. Shes also been a member of three Morganton junior and senior league all-star squads who have qualified for the Southeast Regionals.

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Freedom's Smith signs with SMC for softball