Bob Jones Coach Reaches Milestone: No. 100
MADISON- The Bob Jones baseball team looks to be on course for a banner season sporting a 7-3 record through 10 games of the young 2018 campaign, but have already helped head coach Jared Smith reach a personal milestone as the third-year head coach of the Patriots was presented with his 100th career win.
With a 10-6 victory over Austin High, Smith picked up career win No. 100 with 56 of those with the Patriots and the remainder 44 victories at his previous position as head coach at Dothan High.
“Winning my 100th game was special, but it is all because I have been blessed with great players and assistant coaches who have bought into our philosophy and did everything that I have ever asked,” said Smith. “I got lucky four years ago when I received a chance to be a head coach at Dothan High with a group of players that were hungry to win. I was extremely blessed to have an opportunity to come to Bob Jones, which I feel is one of the top baseball programs and schools in the state.”
The native of Russellville, where he played baseball and basketball at Phil Campbell High, Smith teaches mathematics at Bob Jones. His short three-year tenure with the Patriots has been almost unmatched in school history. In his first season (2016) with the Bob Jones program Smith led the squad to 30 wins for only the fourth time in school history. Last season, the Pats posted a 19-24 record and had two players sign college scholarships.
“When I arrived here, the team was coming off a couple losing seasons and the team immediately went to work to improve,” said Smith.
His current all-time record is 100-78. Smith feels his best coaching is yet to come at Bob Jones where this season the squad is made up of just four seniors, but a bevy of young, talented underclassmen are making a move to put the program in position to be among the best for years to come.
Smith seems to have the program reelin’ and rockin’ with confidence all the way to the youngest players in the program. Smith added, “One of our sophomore players mentioned that we need to get win number 200 before they graduate. It’s a lofty goal for sure, but this group has a chance to accomplish uncommon things so I am excited about what the future holds.”
In recent action, Bob Jones spotted Austin four first inning runs before exploding with four home runs of their own (Dylan Ray had two 3-run homers, John Michael Riley, and Cam Hill) to post a 10-6 victory over the Black Bears. Prior to that win, the Patriots defeated Huntsville 10-0 behind the two-hit, complete game pitching performance by Austin East and the 3 for 3 hitting by Ray. Bob Jones also defeated Randolph 3-2 with a Ray squeeze bunt to score Mitchell Daly in the Pats’ last at bat. Bob Jones also lost a single game to defending Class 6A state champion Helena 16-1.
“The team chemistry is off the charts and it seems like our players love coming to practice and games,” added Smith. “I think if we get everything rolling at the same time, we have a chance to be a really good baseball team.”
