-Bryce Hayes, TLU Sports Information
(Vero Beach, Fla.) – The USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Trials recently wrapped at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, with 45-players representing 20 NCAA Division-I universities participating in the invite-only event. While the participants may have been Division-I, it was not a Division-I only affair as Texas Lutheran’s own Scott Smith was on hand as a coach and a member of the selection committee for USA Softball.
Smith joined the newly selected head coach of USA Softball Heather Tarr (Washington) as well as Cindy Ball-Malone (University of Central Florida), Jeff Harger (Arizona State University), Chris Malveaux (University of Tennessee), and Mike Steuerwald (Gaston College).
Smith joined Wade Wilson’s TLU staff in 2021 – helping guide the Bulldogs to the 2021 NCAA Division III National Championship Finals as a member of the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Smith was heavily involved in the Bulldogs’ offensive approach at the plate. TLU ranked in the Top 25 nationally for: batting average (21st), hit by pitch (3rd), total hits (21st), home runs (21st), on-base percentage (4th), scoring (17th), slugging percentage (20th), sacrifice flies (2nd), and walks (3rd).
Smith is also the National Program Director and Head Coach for the Texas Bombers Club Program.
He has coached with the Bombers for 20 years and most recently his Texas Bombers team under his guidance won the USA Softball 16U National Championship in 2016. That same year Smith’s coaching staff was selected as the NFCA National Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year.