Joseph Smith '11 Recruiting Profile

 Small, yes im not the big guy you may be looking for. I love this game, I play with heart, I play the right way and with respect. It would be a mistake not to take a close look at me.  My senior year in high school is coming to a close, I continue to have very high desires of continuing my education and playing baseball at the collegiate level. Over the past years I have grown as a student and as a ball player. I have built new relationships with a few college coaches and hope to build a few more as I hope to achieve my goal of being accepted at a 4 year university and to continue playing the game I've loved since I was 6 years old. My American Legion season went very well. We won the California Area 1 tournament, going undefeated (5-0) first time ever for the El Dorado program (over 25 years). It was an honor to be a part of this teams great success. Heading into the State tournament in Yountville, Ca. we felt very confident in not only ourselves but more importantly each other. We had the strongest team chemistry because we do everything as a family. We ended up falling short going 1-2 in the State tournament to end the season. But overall it was a huge accomplishment. My past Varsity high school season end with the best record in the history (28-3) of our school and the 2nd consecutive sectional appearance, we came up short once again in the championship game. After facing the competition I did these past years, I now strive to push myself to play at an optimal level every time I step on the diamond. Over my past 3 years in high school, as a team we are 65-13. In addition to the improvements I have made on the field I have also stepped it up in the classroom and in the community. . After my junior year I earned a 3.3 GPA, this accomplishment will push me to continue to perform well in school. I have recently taken the SAT for the second time and made some improvements; I will continue to work hard in the class room to improve these even more. I will be taking SAT agian and plan to take ACT. I have completed 20 hours of community service at my church. I have also started volunteering at Eskaton Retirement Center a few hours a week. I consider myself a well-rounded person, I love to be with my friends and I love to laugh. On the other hand, as a ballplayer, I take the game very seriously. I am very coachable and consider myself a good teammate. I like a coach that has more of a hands-on philosophy. I am 5'6" and weigh about 130 lbs. I plan to attend a few camps, showcases and make some college visits, also will continue to work in the weight room, work on my conditioning. I have set high goals and expectations for myself as a student athlete. I wish to continue to search for the right college that fits not only my desires but also the desires of a program or college that will accept me as a student athlete. I hope to attend a school that will allow me to grow as a citizen and a baseball player. Since this could be my opportunity to be the first of my family to get the chance to attend a 4 year college, I will need to apply for financial aid through FAFSA. Even though I live in California I am willing to discuss opportunities outside the state. As for a college I am looking for one that is medium to small because I would like the environment of that of a tight group, much like a community. My desired major is Kinesiology, Communication and/or Journalism. My goals for playing baseball in college would be to be part of a competitive program that will allow me to use my skills and hard work as a valuable asset to the team. I would hope to have the opportunity to compete for a starting role early in my college career.