Layla Smith, Conestoga Valley, senior, third base, plans to attend Lancaster Bible College and play softball
Have you always played third base?
Smith: No. I was a shortstop when I was younger, until like 14U. And then my last year of 14U, my one coach, he asked me to start playing third. He's like, you have the arm for it. Why don't you start playing third? And also for my travel team, that's when I played for Frozen Ropes. They also wanted me to try third, because they're like, you have the arm for it. Let's see. And then ever since then, I've been playing third. This has been exciting.
How did you start playing softball and what has the journey in your softball career been like since then?
Smith: Ever since I was younger, my dad was a big sports guy. He went to Millersville, and he played football, mainly. He also tried to play baseball while he was there, but obviously it was too much at the D2 level. So then, when I was around six, he was like, let's get you into a sport. So he chose softball for me. I was playing rec until 14. That's when my dad decided to put me and my second oldest sister, Ava, into travel together, and she's always played up with me, since it's easier for my siblings and them. So me and her, we're also at the same school, so she's the shortstop, I'm the third baseman. We play next to each other, which is pretty fun and very exciting.
So what's it like playing with your sister?
Smith: We have, like, obviously, like all sisters, we have our little disagreements sometimes, but on the field we have really good chemistry. We know we have each other's back, and we'll always be there to pick each other up, and we work together so much, like my dad will have us be on the field taking extra reps after practices and stuff. So it's just nice to have her there, because she's a huge support system.
What has you excited about this year's team?
Smith: One thing I'm really excited for is seeing how far we can go, especially it being my senior year, I want to give it my all. I want to end with a really good season. Last year, we made it to playoffs, and we were the 13th seed, so we were the very last seed, and we had to play the third seed for our first game, and we were doing really good. We took the lead for a bit, and then we got tied into extra innings, and we lost on two errors, I think. And so I feel like our team really just needs to work on those things, and that's what we're doing. We're working on tightening our defense, working on our hitting techniques, just trying to be better so that we don't get put in that place where we're the 13th team again, and hopefully we're higher and that will make it past the first game this year in playoffs.
What have you added since last season to your individual game? What are your goals for this coming season?
Smith: Last year I hit my first home run. So that was really exciting. And then I feel like I got into a bit of a slump after my home runs, that I wasn't hitting the best. But this year, I'm just working on thinking simple, like in the box and trusting myself and the work I put in. And then also on the field at third base, I'm going to try to not let anything get past me, and just give 100% effort. Like I said, it's my senior year. I want to go out with a big bang and give it my all.
What is your favorite part of softball?
Smith: I would say hitting is really fun. Hitting more home runs. I'm hoping for five this year. Last year I hit two.
Let's switch to some fun questions. What did you pick up in class this past week?
Smith: Right now, in psychology, we're learning about memory, so I feel like that's pretty interesting, just learning how to memorize things and be a better student in school, especially, like she gave techniques for kids going to college. So that definitely is helping me see how I need to work in college compared to high school.
And how about hobbies outside of sports?
Smith: I love listening to music. Sometimes I'll do some photography. Here and there, I have a camera, so I'll just do it for fun. I love spending time with my three younger sisters. I also volunteer at my church in the summer, which is really fun. So I help with the kids, like vacation Bible school.
What about this coming week? What are you concerned with, you have to deal with, other than softball practice?
Smith: I have two big tests coming up, one for anatomy and then one for psychology. So they're both unit tests, so I'm a little nervous about both of those, but I think I'll be OK.
As a senior, what advice would you give yourself if you were able to offer something to you when you were a freshman?
Smith: I would probably say just being able to have more confidence. That's one thing I feel like I lacked being a freshman on varsity. I started as a freshman, it was definitely like, I felt like I was being pushed under by some of the seniors and stuff. But I would just tell myself, like, to trust myself, have more confidence and not care what others think.
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