Solon Pitcher Matt Smoral Gaining National Recognition

This has been a sensational summer for Solon senior Matt Smoral.

Smoral pitched Thursday night for the Midland Redskins in the Connie Mack World Series. The Redskins, 12-time winners of the event, will play again tonight with hopes of reaching Saturday night's championship game in Farmington, NM.

Smoral will then catch a flight to San Diego, where he will be one of just 46 players selected to play in Sunday's Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park. His parents will be on hand to witness him pitch as he caps off a week to remember.

The All-American Classic will be televised by the CBS College Sports Network at 8 p.m. Sunday.

"This is the best summer I've had," Smoral said from New Mexico before he took the mound against a team from Miami, FL. "I've played in Georgia, Tennessee and New Mexico with a team that's been a powerhouse program for quite a while."

The 6-8, 230-pound Smoral has been with the Cincinnati-based Redskins since June 6. The team is going for its third straight Connie Mack World Series title.

The appearance in Sunday's All-American Game is quite an accomplishment for Smoral, who will play for the East team.

"When they asked me to play it was a no-brainer," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it. A lot of great players have played in that game and it is an honor to play in it."

Smoral has verbally agreed to play for North Carolina next year. The Tarheels have one of the nation's best baseball programs and have sent several players to the Major Leagues. The Comet southpaw will also draw the attention of teams in the Major League draft.

"He's been given a lot of natural talent but he works very hard," says Solon coach Damien Kopkas. ""He's by far the top pitcher I've had here. He's got a 94-mile-per-hour fastball and an outstanding slider."

Smoral went 4-1 for the Comets last season, striking out 47 batters in 34 and 2/3 innings with a 1.82 ERA. Opposing hitters batted just .153 against him.

"He's got really good stuff but what I really admire about him is that he's a very level-headed and down-to-earth kid," said Kopkas. "It pays to be a good person first and a good athlete second."

Smoral certainly has the physical tools to succeed as a dominating pitcher. "When I go out to visit him on the mound I end up staring into the sun," laughed Kopkas. "You can't teach 6-8. It's definitely an advantage, but you have to be able to use it to your advantage. He's really worked hard at repeating his delivery and mechanics."

Smoral, a 3.7 student at Solon, played football until his freshman season, but baseball has always been his true love.

"I've been around baseball since I was 4 or 5 years old," he said. "It's always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball."

Kopkas says that dream could come true.

"If Matt continues to improve they way he has been improving I think he will be drafted in one of the higher rounds," Kopkas said. "His senior season will be an important one."

For now, Smoral is enjoying a summer filled with baseball, travel and memories to last a lifetime.