OMAHA, Neb., — Bryson Smith never lost faith.
Not
when he started the season fighting for a job, struggling to get
at-bats as a senior platoon outfielder. Not even when he was at his
life’s lowest point in early March, embarrassing the top-ranked
Florida baseball team with an ugly arrest.
Saturday night at the College World Series, Smith, speaking to a
small contingent of reporters for the first time since his March
13th arrest, came full circle.
“I
stayed true to my faith and believed in God,” Smith said. “I’ve
been blessed with a second chance and I’m going to give it all I’ve
got.”
Four months after being suspended indefinitely for a driving under
the influence charge, the Gators center fielder starred on the
games biggest stage, pacing Florida’s offense in the 8-4 comeback
win over Texas on the opening night of the tournament in Omaha,
Neb.
Smith reached base in all five plate appearances, igniting the
Gators rally with a run scoring single.
After a tumultuous season that’s seen him transform from shamed
teammate to key piece on a title contender, Smith said he
appreciated Saturday night more than most and that the game was his
proudest as a Gator.
“It’s my senior year and I’ve been through a low point, I’m not
going to lie,” the outfielder said. “To come out like this, I don’t
want to go out a loser. … Especially in a new stadium, the first
night game. It was unreal.”
Looking back, Smith admitted he was unsure if he was going to get
another opportunity.
He
didn’t know if a second chance would ever come, but he leaned
heavily on his roommates, Tyler Thompson and Paul Wilson, and the
rest of his teammates to overcome his self-induced adversity.
“All these guys are my best friends,” he said. “We’re definitely a
team.”
Despite missing 19 games due to suspension, Smith stayed dedicated
in the gym. He went to the batting cages everyday at 6 a.m.
“I
had just gotten hot before everything,” he said. “But I just kept
working and kept believing in myself. No one wanted to succeed more
than I did.”
Before he rejoined the team, the center fielder had countless
heart-to-hearts with coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
“Still do,” he said jokingly. “But [Sully] believed in me,” he
said. “He had my back and I have his. He never lost faith in
me.”
The
senior, who leads the team with a .520 average and .613 on-base
percentage during the NCAA Tournament, returned to the team on
April 15 against Georgia and has started all 33 games since.
“To
have him back means an awful lot to our lineup. He gives us some
stability there at the top. He grinds out at-bats,” O’Sullivan
said. “He’s done a great job for us this whole year. He had a
great, obviously great game Saturday.”
Smith looks to stay hot tonight as Florida faces Southeastern
Conference rival Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. in TD Ameritrade Park in the
double-elimination tournament.
The
two teams have battled four times already this season, including
the SEC Tournament Final when the Gators won 5-0.
After a disappointing two-and-out finish at last season’s CWS,
Florida’s win over Texas infused the team with confidence and
momentum.
“After the fireworks and all the glitz and glamour we met and said,
‘Alright, this is enough. It’s business from now on, and that’s
what we’re going to do,” Smith said.
