EudoraNews.com

If you want something done, ask a busy person. And if you want it done on the softball field, ask Melanie Smith.

Smith was busy playing all 138.1 innings for the Eudora High Cardinals this season while leading her team in hitting and fielding. The senior pitched 108.1 of those frames.

The four-year softball letter-winner also participated four years in basketball and three in volleyball, taking one season off to be a football cheerleader. She's earned nine athletic letters, is vice president of the senior class, a member of National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and on the senior advisory committee. Smith works part-time at Simple Simon's Pizza, and in the summer works as a lifeguard, teaching swimming lessons and of course, playing summer ball.

Eudora senior pitcher Melanie Smith delivers a pitch during a recent game.

Serious and soft-spoken, Smith finds time to have fun and hang with her friends.

"I've got to keep busy. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a day to stay home and do nothing, but then I get bored," she said. "Softball is my favorite sport. It's a summer thing; I love being outdoors. The game can be slow-paced, but it's so competitive. It has a lot of strategy and I can get into it."

She started getting into it the summer before second grade and played Eudora Recreation ball for four seasons before joining a Topeka traveling team for more games.

For the past three summers, she competed with the Lawrence Angels along with high school teammates Wendi Burke and Shena Niedens.

For the Lady Cardinals, Smith hurled every win this year and last season. As a senior, she won five games with an ERA of 3.94, striking out 52 while walking only 32. She also led the team in at-bats (67), hits (33), runs scored (13) and RBIs (12) while batting at a .493 clip. Her fielding average was also high, .955, with a team leading 98 assists.

"Melanie is the most steady fielder we have," EHS coach Cara Kimberlin said of her hurler and third baseman. "She's very hard working and leads by example. Her best attributes as a pitcher are that she is smart and keeps the ball down."

Smith came back from a knee injury two years ago. When she couldn't push off hard enough with her legs, she garnered velocity on her throws by adapting her pitching motion by bending over.

"You are taught to stand straight up," Smith explained. "Besides my fastball, my change is my best pitch. I just throw as hard as I can. If you slow up, you lose control."

Smith has signed a letter of intent with Central College in Pella, Iowa, on a distinguished academic scholarship where she will play fall and spring softball.

"I probably won't get to pitch my first year. Their softball team has a good record and I like the coach," Smith said of the Division III school. She's undecided on a major, but will take basic business courses.. She's interested in architectural design or a career in real estate.

"It will be hard to leave all my teammates here, especially the seniors," Smith said. "Coach Kimberlin is doing a great job and will really turn the program around. She's out there to win and that attitude will rub off on the players."