PBS’ Smith named East MVP

• By WILL TUBBS
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 11, 2008 - Page: 15C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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PINEVILLE — Parkview Baptist pitcher Kelsey Jo Smith started strong and ended strong at the Louisiana High School Softball Coaches All-Star Double-Header on Saturday.

Smith struck out 10, issued one walk and allowed only three hits in seven innings, three as the starter in Game 1 and four as a reliever in Game 2, en route to being named MVP for the East All-Stars.

The West won the first game 5-4, but the East earned a split with a 9-1 victory in the twin bill at Louisiana College.
Brittney Naron of Benton received the same honor for the West All-Stars.

“Kelsey is most valuable player for our team and very deserving,” East coach Jerry Nugent, who guided Mt. Carmel to the 5A title this season, said. “She got into a couple of jams out there today, but pitched herself out of it. That’s what good pitchers do. It was my first time to call pitches for her and I can tell you it was a pleasure.”

Smith showed nerves of steel working the last four innings and registering the win in game 2.

With her team nursing a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Airline teammates Kristen Rich and Kalyn Harris reached safely and were at third and second base respectively with no outs for the West.

Smith, however, struck out Kaplan’s Courtney Hollier, an LSU commitment, and Carencro’s Katie Guillory and forced Byrd’s Hannah Garrelts to ground out to eliminate the threat and protect the lead.

“I like being under pressure, personally,” Smith said. “I knew the defense behind me and that we had all made it this far and been selected for a reason. I knew they would have my back if someone did hit off of me.”

Only three players managed a hit against Smith and no one scored.

Runs were not hard to come by for one of Smith’s teammates, Denham Springs’ Kendra Harmon, who Smith narrowly edged for the MVP award.

In the second game, Harmon, one of two all-stars from Denham Springs, produced three hits, one RBI and three runs.

“I’ve watched Kendra for a few years,” Nugent said. “She’s one of the toughest outs I’ve seen in 11 years of coaching. It was no different tonight.”

Harmon was more concerned with the fact she had made the all-star game than she was with her own performance.