Skip to Main Content

go falcons!

East Kentwood High School athletics

Menu

go falcons!

East Kentwood High School athletics

go falcons!

East Kentwood High School athletics

Game Summaries & Headlines.

Headline

5.0 years ago @ 6:08AM

East Kentwood backstop Alex Smith personifies senior leadership

East Kentwood backstop Alex Smith personifies senior leadership

After catching every inning of all 33 games last season, senior Alex Smith is a true leader in the East Kentwood dugout, while providing a dangerous bat and all-around defensive skills behind the plate. (Karen Waite | Advance Newspapers)

By Don VanderVeen | Advance Newspapers 
on April 19, 2018 1:27 PM

KENTWOOD – As a three-year varsity player, Alex Smith is everything first-year East Kentwood softball coach Owen Fletke could want out of a senior catcher.

“Alex personifies foundational leadership, and sets a terrific example by her work ethic, leadership, and being vocal,” Fletke said. “Seniors are the foundation for any sports team. They set the tone for the varsity, junior-varsity, and freshman teams.

“Alex is vocal on the field, making calls, helping pitchers and other players, and mentoring all of the time. She is a true East Kentwood softball Falcon, who will leave a legacy after her final season.”

Fletke said Smith's leadership role began long before the season started.

“Alex's season got off to a great start last fall,” Fletke said. “As a senior and three-year varsity player, she stepped up and participated in weekly four-person workouts, open gyms, speed and agility training, and weight training. She also gave of her time on Sunday nights during the winter, helping with elementary-school and middle-school softball training.”

Smith was voted as one of the Falcons' team captains by her teammates.

“Alex is a very kind, caring, and considerate young lady, and does anything asked of her,” Fletke said. “She is proactive and takes the lead when not asked, which are the signs of a true leader.”

Through four games, Smith was batting .333 and drove in the Falcons' only run against a strong Caledonia team.

“She is a contact hitter who drives the ball,” Fletke said. 

Smith caught every inning of all 33 games the Falcons played one year ago. She batted .298 and was third on the team in RBI. She has not committed an error this spring.

 “Alex is constantly working on improving her catching skills, calling and managing pitches, as well as blocking and throwing,” Fletke said. “She has increased her impact this year in her senior season by her tremendous leadership.

“Alex makes others around her better by helping, demonstrating, and leading.”

The Falcons were off to a 1-3 start during an early-season schedule interrupted by weather.

“We are very competitive with a never-give-up mentality by fighting until the last out,” Fletke said. “Our team continues to work and improve each day. Our team needs to get off to faster starts, with good, aggressive swings early in games, as well as aggressive base running. We also need to work on improving our defense, with better fielding and throwing.

“We will compete in every game and give maximum effort until the final out.  We will be competitive in every game.”


Skip Spirit Shop Ad
https://eksports.org