Thursday March 28th, 2024
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Shannon Smith

 

Shannon Smith

USSSA Playing History

GoSoftball.com Player Page

2011 Interview

Why do you like the game of softball?
It started out as another reason to get drunk with my buddies, then I got addicted to tournaments and trying to do well and win.   Now it gives me a reason to stay competitive and meet new friends.   I've met some of my best friends I have now through softball.

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Connell and Helmer hitting, Purcell pitching.   I've seen a ton of guys that have amazing gloves and arms in the infield and several outfielders with great arms and tracking skills.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
I haven't seen enough guys to know who's up and coming.   Jake Mays is a friend of mine is playing with 4 the Fallen this year hes someone to watch.   Some Reyes kid I saw at A nationals, he played SS for Annihilation caught everything in the field and had unbelievable bat control.

What is your nickname in softball?
Zac Brown, Shrek, Ogre, P. Bunyan, and Bew Bear is what my girlfriend says.

Where do you call home?
Norman, OK

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Wake up early saturday and hit the gym with my best bud tito.   We stay till about 11, go grab some lunch.   Then I take a nap, then I go hang out with some friends somewhere, go watch a ball game or UFC.

What do you do for a living?
Land Man for Advanced Land Services in Norman, OK.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
Baseball and Track in HS. Baseball for two years in College, like 3 months of football at Central OKU

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
Not sure I've made it to upper yet.   I got invited out to E league with my buddy Chris.   We were filling in for his uncle's team the Turf Sharks, haha.   These guys were so OLD.   I hit my first pitch over, I was ejected offensively.   Got drunk thought it was the most fun I'd had in a while.    We started our own team with some HS buddies.   One day got asked to play some local tournies.   Then ran into some current Evicted guys.   I started playing league with them here and there.   Chuck Boyd asked me to play with Lowat at the Snowball 2010.   I played with them some that year, they broke up and I picked up for the rest of the year with Rent King, also Evicted guys.   Thanks to Kelly "Webby" Webb for everything you did that year.   Going to worlds was an awesome new experience.   Soon after that I recieved a call from Arkansas Sportswear, we were supposed to play conference but the team ended up folding before the season started.   Rent King became Evicted and I played with them all last year.    Thanks a lot to Aaron "tito" Bryant, he's been a great a friend and a great workout partner.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
"Stay in school or get a job" -My dad

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Keep getting better.  Learn all you can, stay away from the booze at the field.  Its harder to play when you're drunk

What position do you play?
3rd, 1st. Hopefully some OF this coming year.

What batting grip do you use?
Pinky on the knob, top hand overlap to the index finger

What ounce bat do you use?
28.5-30 connell II

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
Fall and Winter is alway a great time for mass and strength.  Heavy lifting on your core lifts, heavy eating at the table. I would be at the gym even if I didn't play softball.  Only thing I do for softball is BP and hand speed drills.

What is your favorite sports team?
I'm partial to Braves and Falcons because I'm from GA.  But I LOVE the Texas Rangers.

What is your favorite sport other than softball?
Baseball, Football, and Power Lifting

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
None

What is your most memorable softball moment?
Evicted taking 5th at our first Major event in KC last year.  We won our first 3, two being against MWSwing and DMC Resmondo.  Then we played Team Resmondo.  And watching clueless Tito try to make is way through the "ninja stars".  They are round abouts, easily navigatable if your not… TITO

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
"New Level" Pantera or "Redneck" Lamb of God

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
I don't think I've been around long enough to see where there could be an improvement.  I did think the conference umps had a different/better strike zone than the local umps.  They need to colaborate or there needs to be a meeting to tell everyone what a strike is. it shouldn't be significantly different game to game.

What is your favorite non-World tournament?
I like the Snowball tournament in Denison, TX. I would like to go to the Smoky in TN.

What is the best softball field you have played at and why?
The fields in NW arkansas are all dirt and river silt.  They are awesome.  Artificial, has to be BLD Mansfield and Houston.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Depends on how you finished.  Could be gas station taquitos or a steak house.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
Its always funny when Old guys argue and try to fight.




 

 

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