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Smith Swings Big Bat for BYU
By Scott Bell, The Provo Daily Herald
April 19, 2000
PROVO -- A lot of things about Liz Smith are big. Teammates and coaches on the BYU softball team would tell you she has a big heart. You could say her team-leading batting average of .301 is big. And softball has always been a big part of Smith's life. But at least one thing is sure: Smith is not big in stature. No matter what the BYU media guide says. Smith is a 5-foot lefty who bats leadoff for the Cougars. In the media guide, she's listed at 200 pounds. As could be imagined, the clerical error has drawn Smith a steady stream of teasing from her teammates. "That's our standing joke," said BYU coach Mary Kay Amicone, going into her mock announcer voice. " 'And now the leadoff hitter, weighing in at 200 pounds.' "She's 100 pounds soaking wet." Smith's play so far has made sure she'll be remembered for more than being the 200-pound leadoff hitter. Besides her team-leading average, Smith has stolen a team-high five bases in conference play. She has played a major role as the Cougars have gone 10-17 thus far in their inaugural season. For Smith, playing at BYU is just the latest step in a career than began when she was 7 years old. She played high school ball for Jordan, where she helped win the state title in 1998 as a senior. Last year, Smith played for Ricks. She batted over .400 as the Vikings placed third at the junior college national championships. For the record, Smith has always been small. "I haven't grown since seventh grade," Smith said. "I'm kind of stuck. But that just means I have a smaller strike zone." Making the decision to leave Ricks with one year of eligibility remaining was a tough one for Smith. On the plane ride home from nationals, Ricks coach Larry Stocking told Smith he would be bumping up her scholarship and making her captain for the next year. Smith went home to Draper for the summer. When Amicone was named the BYU coach, Smith's mother, Gwen, called to offer her congratulations. Amicone said thanks by offering Smith a scholarship. Amicone had coached Smith in a summer league previously. "Of the 20 players on the team, she is one of the two I recruited," said Amicone, who was hired late and forced to scramble for players, many of whom she had never seen in person. "In her case, at least I knew what I was getting. I knew she'd be a standout." After plenty of thought, Smith decided to head to Provo. "I called (Stocking) and was like, 'Coach, I'm not coming back next year,' " Smith said. "He was like, 'What?' "He called back 10 minutes later and said, 'Are you sure it's not something I did wrong?' He wanted what's best for me, but it's just hard to have a player leave." Moving from a successful team to a first-year program has been an adjustment for Smith. But more than the losing, she's had to overcome some stereotypes associated with softball players. Even at BYU, Smith has encountered a few close-minded people. "It's been a struggle," Smith said. "You always get the rap of, 'Oh, you play softball, you must be a lesbian.' That's one of the first comments I heard in the weight room. "A guy said, 'You play softball? Do you have any lesbian friends?' And I just said, 'No.' " On the field, BYU has been limping lately, losing six of its last seven. The rigors of playing 27 straight road games seem to have caught up with the team. But Smith has remained positive, keeping the big picture in mind. "We do take pride in being the first," Smith said. "Right now, we're kind of writing history." Let the historical record show that Smith's teammates sometimes quote the movie "Sandlot" when referring to her: "You're killing me, Smalls."
Because however large a contribution Smith has made this season, she's
definitely nowhere near 200 pounds.
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