Prep Baseball Report

Q&A With NW Missouri State Commit: '16 Gage Smart- Indianola



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By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

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----gage smart - gagesmart.jpgName: Gage Smart
Position: LHP
Class: 2016
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 165-pounds
High School: Indianola
PBR Rank: #61 in IA 2016 Class

Evaluation: 6-foot-2, 165-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.46 runner.  Hides ball from hitter. Lands far across body. Cross-fire delivery. Fastball has sinking action with heavy ASR at 80-81 mph. 2/8 breaking ball with loose spin and inconsistent feel for zone. Shows ability to throw changeup for strikes with ASR and above avg. arm speed.

 

PBR: Why did you choose Northwest Missouri State?
I chose Northwest because of the atmosphere on campus. As soon as I got there I knew I would like to play there. The guys were really nice and welcoming.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Other schools I was looking at were Grand View, Buena Vista, and Ellsworth.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
The coaching staff first saw me last spring at a pitching camp at their campus. Ever since then they had been in constant contact with my dad and I and we made several visits down to meet with them.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
I feel somewhat relieved. The process was long and frustrating but it’s nice to know that I can now focus on this upcoming high school season.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
The deciding factor for me was how well I got along with the players and coaches.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
The people I would credit to my success would be my Dad and Pete Blake. My dad has been on me since a young age about pitching and Pete has helped me ever since I was little in honing in my skills.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
For my freshman season they said I’ll get my chance to show them what I can do. If I’m not going to be used that much I’ll take my red-shirt season and get better.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
My most memorable moment would probably be pitching at the University of Minnesota this fall.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
The best player I’ve played against was Keaton McKinney; he is a really good pitcher. I appreciate how he plays his game; pitching and hitting against him was a good challenge.

  

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