REID AGRELLA GETS WIN IN AHSAA ALL-STAR GAME
2015 C/P Reid Agrella played in the 2014 North-South All-Star game on July 22, 2014. Agrella got the win after pitching 1 1/3 innings. Agrella gave up 1 run on 3 hits, 1 K, and 1 BB. Agrella went 0-3 at the plate with a stolen base after reaching on an error. Congratulations to Reid on his performance and being selected for this prestigious event.
DOTHAN TIGERS CLAIM 17-U AMERICAN LEGION STATE TITLE
The Dothan Tigers baseball team rolled off six straight impressive offensive innings over two games en route to claiming the 17-under American Legion state title Sunday in Troy. Dothan defeated Baseball Country 9-3 on Sunday morning to reach the title game and then beat Troy Post 70 6-4 to win the championship.
A loss to Baseball Country late Saturday forced the Tigers to play two games Sunday. They trailed Baseball Country 3-0 heading into the fifth inning of an elimination game Sunday morning before striking for five runs.
Nick Kellenberger reached on an error to start the inning off, and Christian Colbert followed with a single. After an out, Blake Jones doubled home Kellenberger, leaving runners at second and third. Baseball Country’s pitcher plunked Jay Jordan to load the bases, and Matt Parker – the tournament’s most valuable player – roped a bases-clearing triple to put Dothan up 4-3. Bubba McDaniel then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Parker and make the score 5-3.
The Tigers (25-6) added three runs in the sixth for insurance. A Jordan double drove home Colbert and Austin Deloney with two outs, and Parker’s single plated Jordan. Dothan added one more run in the seventh and last inning for the final advantage.
“We came out a little flat, and then a rain delay hit. That killed all of the momentum for Baseball Country,” said Robert Woodall, Tigers head coach. “That comeback was huge. I was very, very proud of the boys.”
The offensive onslaught continued in the first three innings of the title game against Troy Post 70. Dothan tallied three runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third in jumping out to a 6-1 lead. They then held on for a 6-4 win after Troy chipped away with single runs in three of its next five turns at the plate. In that game, Reid Agrella had two hits – including a double – and three RBIs. Jordan had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored, while Alex Arriaga added a double and run scored.
Parker had a hit and two runs scored, while McDaniel and Christian Hughey had an RBI each. Parker earned the win in the title game, throwing all seven innings. He allowed nine hits and four runs and struck out two. Jones earned the win in relief in the first game, allowing just one hit and striking out two in three innings pitched.
“State championships are rare. It’s a great feeling,” he said. “All the boys played their hearts out.”
A loss to Baseball Country late Saturday forced the Tigers to play two games Sunday. They trailed Baseball Country 3-0 heading into the fifth inning of an elimination game Sunday morning before striking for five runs.
Nick Kellenberger reached on an error to start the inning off, and Christian Colbert followed with a single. After an out, Blake Jones doubled home Kellenberger, leaving runners at second and third. Baseball Country’s pitcher plunked Jay Jordan to load the bases, and Matt Parker – the tournament’s most valuable player – roped a bases-clearing triple to put Dothan up 4-3. Bubba McDaniel then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Parker and make the score 5-3.
The Tigers (25-6) added three runs in the sixth for insurance. A Jordan double drove home Colbert and Austin Deloney with two outs, and Parker’s single plated Jordan. Dothan added one more run in the seventh and last inning for the final advantage.
“We came out a little flat, and then a rain delay hit. That killed all of the momentum for Baseball Country,” said Robert Woodall, Tigers head coach. “That comeback was huge. I was very, very proud of the boys.”
The offensive onslaught continued in the first three innings of the title game against Troy Post 70. Dothan tallied three runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third in jumping out to a 6-1 lead. They then held on for a 6-4 win after Troy chipped away with single runs in three of its next five turns at the plate. In that game, Reid Agrella had two hits – including a double – and three RBIs. Jordan had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored, while Alex Arriaga added a double and run scored.
Parker had a hit and two runs scored, while McDaniel and Christian Hughey had an RBI each. Parker earned the win in the title game, throwing all seven innings. He allowed nine hits and four runs and struck out two. Jones earned the win in relief in the first game, allowing just one hit and striking out two in three innings pitched.
“State championships are rare. It’s a great feeling,” he said. “All the boys played their hearts out.”
Wells Fargo National High School Summer Showcase Results
Dothan goes 3-1 in prestigious Summer Showcase:
Dothan 8, Alexandria 4; Dothan 0, Chelsea 2; Dothan 8, Hoover 3; Dothan 7, Sheffield 6
Reid Agrella shined this weekend for Dothan’s varsity squad, driving in six runs in four games as the Tigers went 3-1 in the Wells Fargo National High School Summer Showcase. Dothan defeated Alexandria 8-4, Hoover 8-3 and Sheffield 7-6 in the tournament. Its only loss came to Chelsea, a 2-0 defeat.
Agrella was 4 for 12 on the weekend, including a two-run homer against Sheffield. Jay Jordan was 6 for 11 with two doubles, two stolen bases and two RBIs. Matt Parker went 4 for 12 at the plate with a double, triple, stolen base and four RBIs, while Alex Arriaga added a double and a triple amongst his four hits.Bubba McDaniel hit .400 this weekend, driving in two runs and stealing two bases.
Arriaga, Parker and Ryan Rankin earned wins on the mound for the Tigers. Blake Jones pitched well in the loss, giving up one earned run in five innings.
Dothan 8, Alexandria 4; Dothan 0, Chelsea 2; Dothan 8, Hoover 3; Dothan 7, Sheffield 6
Reid Agrella shined this weekend for Dothan’s varsity squad, driving in six runs in four games as the Tigers went 3-1 in the Wells Fargo National High School Summer Showcase. Dothan defeated Alexandria 8-4, Hoover 8-3 and Sheffield 7-6 in the tournament. Its only loss came to Chelsea, a 2-0 defeat.
Agrella was 4 for 12 on the weekend, including a two-run homer against Sheffield. Jay Jordan was 6 for 11 with two doubles, two stolen bases and two RBIs. Matt Parker went 4 for 12 at the plate with a double, triple, stolen base and four RBIs, while Alex Arriaga added a double and a triple amongst his four hits.Bubba McDaniel hit .400 this weekend, driving in two runs and stealing two bases.
Arriaga, Parker and Ryan Rankin earned wins on the mound for the Tigers. Blake Jones pitched well in the loss, giving up one earned run in five innings.
JAY JORDAN NAMED 6A HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STATE
The honors keep rolling in for Junior shortstop/pitcher, Jay Jordan. Jordan was recognized by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as Honorable Mention as a Utility Player. He was recognized as a utility player for his offensive, defensive, and pitching performances. Jordan is only the 2nd Dothan High School player to receive All-State Honors. The only other Dothan player to receive All-State Honors was Pitcher, Landon Brazell in 2000.
JAY JORDAN RECOGNIZED BY THE DOTHAN EAGLE
Junior shortstop/pitcher, Jay Jordan, was named Honorable Mention Super 12 by the Dothan Eagle on June 1st. This is a tremendous honor as the list is composed of the best players in the Wiregrass area. Jordan finished his junior season with 0.333 Batting Average with 3 doubles, 2 homeruns, 26 walks, 31 runs, 15 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Jordan also led the pitching staff with a (6-4) record and 2.49 ERA through 64.67 Innings. He also had 44 strikeouts with only 18 walks.
2014 VARSITY AWARD WINNERS
Most Improved - Nick Kellenberger
Weight Room Warrior - Keenan Cason
Rookie of the Year - Bubba McDaniel
Best Teammate - Ryan Rankin
Scholar-Athlete Award - Matt Parker 4.41 GPA
Most Outstanding Pitcher - Jay Jordan
Defensive MVP - Matt Parker
Offensive MVP - Reid Agrella
Team Captains - Reid Agrella, Jay Jordan, Matt Parker
Most Valuable Player - Jay Jordan
Senior - Tyler Tretchell
Weight Room Warrior - Keenan Cason
Rookie of the Year - Bubba McDaniel
Best Teammate - Ryan Rankin
Scholar-Athlete Award - Matt Parker 4.41 GPA
Most Outstanding Pitcher - Jay Jordan
Defensive MVP - Matt Parker
Offensive MVP - Reid Agrella
Team Captains - Reid Agrella, Jay Jordan, Matt Parker
Most Valuable Player - Jay Jordan
Senior - Tyler Tretchell
2014 BASEBALL BANQUET
JUNIOR REID AGRELLA NAMED TO NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR TEAM
2015 P/C, Reid Agrella, has been selected to participate in the 18th annual North-South All-Star Baseball Game during All-Star Sports Week. The game will be held in Montgomery on July 22nd and is put on by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. This is a huge honor for Reid and the Dothan baseball program. Congratulations Reid!
JUDY COLLINS THROWS OUT THE FIRST PITCH
Champions of the Montgomery Challenge - Team Whiteness
Runner-up of the Montgomery Challenge - Team Trock-n-Friends
Varsity players with Christmas gifts that they bought for a child in need.
Varsity players with their gifts from Dirty Santa
Baseball Players Painted Up in Support of Senior Football Players
Baseball Team and Diamond Dolls at the "Light the Night" Cancer Walk
DOTHAN BASEBALL IN THE NEWS
Smith Ready to Turn Around Dothan High Baseball - Dothan Eagle
Dothan Hires Jared Smith as New Baseball Coach - WTVY.com
PC Alum Gets Dothan Baseball Job - Franklin Free Press
Jared Smith Named Dothan Baseball Coach - Dothan First.com
2015 P/C Reid Agrella Named to 2013 AlaBCA Team Alabama - AlaBCA.org
Dothan Hires Jared Smith as New Baseball Coach - WTVY.com
PC Alum Gets Dothan Baseball Job - Franklin Free Press
Jared Smith Named Dothan Baseball Coach - Dothan First.com
2015 P/C Reid Agrella Named to 2013 AlaBCA Team Alabama - AlaBCA.org
Smith Ready to Turn Around Dothan High Baseball - Dothan Eagle
Jared Smith has heard about the Dothan High baseball program’s storied history – and its recent past.
The new Tiger head baseball coach, officially hired Monday night by the Dothan City School Board as a math teacher and coach, wants to rekindle the program’s proud tradition.
“I know in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, they were a perennial program under coach (Terry) Collins,” Smith said. “I want to get Dothan back to those days.”
Smith, who comes to Dothan after five years as an assistant coach at Class 6A Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, is also aware of the Tigers’ recent history, one that has featured no winning seasons since 2001.
However, based on what he has heard, he feels the potential is there to put the Tiger program back on the winning side of the ledger.
“I researched it, calling a lot of coaches and friends in that area and not one of them said, ‘Don’t take it. You can’t win there,’” Smith said. “Everybody said they had what you look for and that things are in place to be successful.”
Smith has several ideas of how to turn the program around – starting first and foremost with work ethic, an area that he got the impression lacked at Dothan in recent years.
“We have to change the culture,” Smith said. “We have to outwork everybody. I know coaches say that, but we have to. We have to work hard year round and not just during the season.
“I understand Dothan had only one kid playing summer ball. We have to change that. We have to get after it in all phases and we have to get after it in the weight room.”
Smith feels he has experience to fall back. While at Northridge with head coach Travis Garner, the program won more than 100 games over five years after the team struggled under previous coaches. Former University of Alabama head coach Jim Wells helped in recent seasons.
“When we arrived there five years ago it was a similar situation as it is at Dothan now,” Smith said. “They had only won seven games the year before, but every year, coach Garner and I won 20 games or more and we won the area championship in two years, so I have been a part of turning a program around.”
Another part of creating a winning environment, said Smith, is getting kids to be excited again about being part of Tiger baseball.
“I understand there is a ton of talent in Dothan, but that a lot of it has transferred out,” Smith said. “We have to get Dothan kids that want to be at Dothan.”
Smith is optimistic that if the culture of work ethic and excitement changes, so will the results.
“I would not say we are rebuilding,” Smith said. “We can come in and work hard and if we do, we will see results quickly.
“I don’t have a set number of wins, but if we work hard, I do expect we will see immediate results (improvement). Now, whether it leads to wins and championships, we will see.”
Dothan principal Stan Eldridge and athletic director Kelvis White were upbeat about the hire of Smith, who replaces Jarett Maddox. Maddox resigned last month.
“He is a young, energetic coach who is ready to go,” Eldridge said of Smith. “He is ready to meet the players and meet the parents. He said he cares about the players. He wants to take care of them and he said he wants to do what is best for them. That impressed me, as did his organizational skills. He has a good plan.
“Coach White called all the references and the head coach said, ‘Don’t hire him because I don’t want to lose him,’ and the principal said, ‘Don’t hire because I don’t want to lose him as a math teacher,’ so that says a lot.”
White described Smith as “extremely organized and very intelligent.”
In addition to his five years at Northridge, Smith was a volunteer assistant at Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa when the Patriots won the 6A state championship in 2007.
He is a 2003 graduate of Phil Campbell High School in north Alabama where he played mostly second base and outfield, though he also pitched some.
Smith earned his bachelor and masters’ degrees from the University of Alabama in math and will complete an education leadership degree from the University of West Alabama later this month.
“I am real excited about going to work at Dothan High School,” Smith said. “It is a school rich with tradition. It has tremendous support from parents and administration. I feel it is a great opportunity.”
He expects his team to display several traits.
“We will instill core values, we will be disciplined, we will give maximum effort and be committed to the program,” Smith said.
On the field, Smith said he will focus on hitting and defense. He hopes to hire a coach to handle the pitching staff.
“Hitting and defense are my strong point,” Smith said. “Offensively, we will be aggressive and we will know when we need to be aggressive. Defensively, we will be fundamentally sound.”
Smith will be at Dothan High in the media center today at 5 p.m. to meet Tiger players and parents.
The new Tiger head baseball coach, officially hired Monday night by the Dothan City School Board as a math teacher and coach, wants to rekindle the program’s proud tradition.
“I know in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, they were a perennial program under coach (Terry) Collins,” Smith said. “I want to get Dothan back to those days.”
Smith, who comes to Dothan after five years as an assistant coach at Class 6A Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, is also aware of the Tigers’ recent history, one that has featured no winning seasons since 2001.
However, based on what he has heard, he feels the potential is there to put the Tiger program back on the winning side of the ledger.
“I researched it, calling a lot of coaches and friends in that area and not one of them said, ‘Don’t take it. You can’t win there,’” Smith said. “Everybody said they had what you look for and that things are in place to be successful.”
Smith has several ideas of how to turn the program around – starting first and foremost with work ethic, an area that he got the impression lacked at Dothan in recent years.
“We have to change the culture,” Smith said. “We have to outwork everybody. I know coaches say that, but we have to. We have to work hard year round and not just during the season.
“I understand Dothan had only one kid playing summer ball. We have to change that. We have to get after it in all phases and we have to get after it in the weight room.”
Smith feels he has experience to fall back. While at Northridge with head coach Travis Garner, the program won more than 100 games over five years after the team struggled under previous coaches. Former University of Alabama head coach Jim Wells helped in recent seasons.
“When we arrived there five years ago it was a similar situation as it is at Dothan now,” Smith said. “They had only won seven games the year before, but every year, coach Garner and I won 20 games or more and we won the area championship in two years, so I have been a part of turning a program around.”
Another part of creating a winning environment, said Smith, is getting kids to be excited again about being part of Tiger baseball.
“I understand there is a ton of talent in Dothan, but that a lot of it has transferred out,” Smith said. “We have to get Dothan kids that want to be at Dothan.”
Smith is optimistic that if the culture of work ethic and excitement changes, so will the results.
“I would not say we are rebuilding,” Smith said. “We can come in and work hard and if we do, we will see results quickly.
“I don’t have a set number of wins, but if we work hard, I do expect we will see immediate results (improvement). Now, whether it leads to wins and championships, we will see.”
Dothan principal Stan Eldridge and athletic director Kelvis White were upbeat about the hire of Smith, who replaces Jarett Maddox. Maddox resigned last month.
“He is a young, energetic coach who is ready to go,” Eldridge said of Smith. “He is ready to meet the players and meet the parents. He said he cares about the players. He wants to take care of them and he said he wants to do what is best for them. That impressed me, as did his organizational skills. He has a good plan.
“Coach White called all the references and the head coach said, ‘Don’t hire him because I don’t want to lose him,’ and the principal said, ‘Don’t hire because I don’t want to lose him as a math teacher,’ so that says a lot.”
White described Smith as “extremely organized and very intelligent.”
In addition to his five years at Northridge, Smith was a volunteer assistant at Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa when the Patriots won the 6A state championship in 2007.
He is a 2003 graduate of Phil Campbell High School in north Alabama where he played mostly second base and outfield, though he also pitched some.
Smith earned his bachelor and masters’ degrees from the University of Alabama in math and will complete an education leadership degree from the University of West Alabama later this month.
“I am real excited about going to work at Dothan High School,” Smith said. “It is a school rich with tradition. It has tremendous support from parents and administration. I feel it is a great opportunity.”
He expects his team to display several traits.
“We will instill core values, we will be disciplined, we will give maximum effort and be committed to the program,” Smith said.
On the field, Smith said he will focus on hitting and defense. He hopes to hire a coach to handle the pitching staff.
“Hitting and defense are my strong point,” Smith said. “Offensively, we will be aggressive and we will know when we need to be aggressive. Defensively, we will be fundamentally sound.”
Smith will be at Dothan High in the media center today at 5 p.m. to meet Tiger players and parents.
Dothan Hires Jared Smith as New Baseball Coach
(DOTHAN) - Dothan's new baseball Coach, Jared Smith, says he hopes to help mold the Tigers back into the dominant 6A program they were in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
"I made a lot of phone calls to friends before I took this job and not a single person said 'Don't take it,' said Smith.
"I did some research and know what Terry Collins did for this program back in the day and I feel like we have the potential here," he said.
For the past five seasons Smith worked as an assistant coach at Northridge high school under head coach Travis Garner.
Smith helped the team to more than 100 wins over those five seasons. He's excited and feels like he can bring that experience to Dothan.
"I'm ready to evaluate every aspect of the program, see what we want to change and what we want to keep the same to keep this a premier program," said Smith.
"We're just going to go after it. Every Coach says that they're going to outwork people but you know we are going to do what it takes year-round to be a successful 6A program," he said.
Smith hopes to hold the first full week of practice and scrimmages the week of July 22nd.
"I made a lot of phone calls to friends before I took this job and not a single person said 'Don't take it,' said Smith.
"I did some research and know what Terry Collins did for this program back in the day and I feel like we have the potential here," he said.
For the past five seasons Smith worked as an assistant coach at Northridge high school under head coach Travis Garner.
Smith helped the team to more than 100 wins over those five seasons. He's excited and feels like he can bring that experience to Dothan.
"I'm ready to evaluate every aspect of the program, see what we want to change and what we want to keep the same to keep this a premier program," said Smith.
"We're just going to go after it. Every Coach says that they're going to outwork people but you know we are going to do what it takes year-round to be a successful 6A program," he said.
Smith hopes to hold the first full week of practice and scrimmages the week of July 22nd.
PC Alum Gets Dothan Baseball Job
Even as a 14-year-old kid at East Franklin Junior High, Jared Smith knew exactly what he wanted to do for a living.
It was in his blood.
“Pretty much everybody in my family has been involved in teaching and coaching,” said Smith, who played baseball at Phil Campbell before graduating in 2003. “There was never any doubt that’s what I wanted to do. I’ve always been pretty good at math, and some people wanted me to be an engineer. But that never really interested me.
“I love being around the game and being around the kids. Ever since the ninth or tenth grade, I’ve known this is what I wanted to do.”
Smith’s mother, Vickie King, retired from education after teaching at East Franklin and Tharptown. His father, Alan Smith, is the head baseball coach at Winfield High School.
Smith’s grandmother taught at Phil Campbell, and he has aunts and uncles still working in the field of education. It was no surprise, then, when Smith chose to pursue a degree in math from the University of Alabama with the aim of becoming a teacher and a baseball coach.
After earning his bachelor’s, Smith broke into the coaching ranks in 2007 as an assistant at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, where he helped the Patriots win the Class 6A state title. He returned to the University to get his Master’s degree (also in math) and then spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa.
On July 8, Smith officially became a head coach for the first time when he was hired to take over the baseball program at Dothan High School.
“I’m really excited,” Smith said last week. “It’s been a whirlwind trying to get moved down there, get the schedule worked out and meet the kids. I haven’t had a chance to evaluate the players, but I’m ready to get going and hopefully evaluate the whole program really soon.”
Dothan, once a perennial baseball powerhouse, has struggled in recent years. The Tigers have just one winning season since 2001 and one playoff appearance since 2002.
“They were very good for a long time,” Smith said. “They won a state championship in 1978 and had some really good teams in the 80s and 90s, too. They made the playoffs a lot and made a deep run every once in a while. The last ten years or so, they’ve fallen off a little bit, for whatever reason. Our goal is to turn things around and help Dothan become a premier program again.”
Smith said there is plenty of baseball talent in Dothan; there are also plenty of options for where those student-athletes can attend school.
“There’s a ton of baseball talent in Dothan,” he said. “There are two schools in the city, Dothan High and Northview, which is pretty much the northern half of Dothan. There are a few private schools in town, and then there are some really good county programs, too, like G.W. Long, that have won a lot in the last few years.
“Dothan High has lost some talent to other schools. Our goal will be to keep the ones we’ve got there now and hopefully eventually get it to the point where nobody’s leaving. We want those kids to want to be at Dothan.”
Smith has some experience when it comes to building a program. At Northridge, he helped head coach Travis Garner transform the Jaguars from a seven-win team in 2008 to a team that has won 20 or more games in each of the past five seasons. Two years ago, Northridge won the first area championship in the school’s brief history.
Smith believes a similar turnaround is possible at Dothan, where the Tigers won just 12 games last year. And he has very specific ideas about how to get it done.
“Offensively, I believe in being aggressive,” Smith said. “The bats have changed, and the game has changed. We’ll bunt, we’ll hit-and-run, we’ll steal bases. We’ll do the small things right. The days of people hitting a bunch of home runs in high school baseball are pretty much over, unless they change something. Everybody likes to see a ball go over the fence, but doing the little things right and playing small ball will be the key.
“Defensively, we’ll be sound. You have to make the routine plays. There aren’t a lot of 12-10 games any more. If you can make all the routine plays, that can help you win a game 2-1 or 3-2.
“Our pitchers will throw strikes. I hate it when pitchers walk people. As a pitcher, you have to attack the strike zone and see if a high school hitter is good enough to beat you. I want our pitchers to be able to throw three pitches for strikes.”
Smith started at second base for Phil Campbell as a senior in 2003, helping head coach Michael Beck lay the foundation for teams that would make back-to-back trips to the state finals in 2005 and 2006.
“I graduated right before they made those two runs to the state finals,” Smith said. “We were 3A when I played, and then they dropped down to 2A, which helped out a ton. They did very well. I hate I missed out on that.
“I really enjoyed playing for Coach Beck. He was a big drill guy when it came to hitting. I’ve been around three or four coaches with different approaches, and I’ve tried to take something from each one. Coach Beck’s style was very aggressive. He knew how to get the most out of his kids—that’s why they had two state runner-up teams. I took a lot from the hitting aspect of the game, with all the drill work we did. He was really big on that.”
Smith spent his entire playing career at the small-school level, but all of his coaching jobs to date have been at 6A schools.
“I was fortunate to be at Hillcrest in 2007 when they won a state championship,” he said. “I took a year off to get my Master’s, and I’ve been in 6A ball ever since. I haven’t been in small-school ball since Phil Campbell. It’s different. There’s some good and some bad with both. At a small school, the community support is unbelievable. Everything just revolves around the school and athletics. It’s not quite like that at a larger school. They don’t shut down the whole town for a playoff game. There’s too much to do, I guess.
“Dothan kind of has that small-school atmosphere, though. They really want the program to be successful, and everybody wants to be a part of that success.”
The Tigers’ schedule for 2014 is pretty much set, but Smith already has an eye on a potential meeting some time down the road with Winfield, where his dad has led the Pirates to state quarterfinal appearances each of the past two seasons.
“Man, we were gonna try to make it work, but it was a little late in the game to make that happen,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can get that next year.
It was in his blood.
“Pretty much everybody in my family has been involved in teaching and coaching,” said Smith, who played baseball at Phil Campbell before graduating in 2003. “There was never any doubt that’s what I wanted to do. I’ve always been pretty good at math, and some people wanted me to be an engineer. But that never really interested me.
“I love being around the game and being around the kids. Ever since the ninth or tenth grade, I’ve known this is what I wanted to do.”
Smith’s mother, Vickie King, retired from education after teaching at East Franklin and Tharptown. His father, Alan Smith, is the head baseball coach at Winfield High School.
Smith’s grandmother taught at Phil Campbell, and he has aunts and uncles still working in the field of education. It was no surprise, then, when Smith chose to pursue a degree in math from the University of Alabama with the aim of becoming a teacher and a baseball coach.
After earning his bachelor’s, Smith broke into the coaching ranks in 2007 as an assistant at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, where he helped the Patriots win the Class 6A state title. He returned to the University to get his Master’s degree (also in math) and then spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa.
On July 8, Smith officially became a head coach for the first time when he was hired to take over the baseball program at Dothan High School.
“I’m really excited,” Smith said last week. “It’s been a whirlwind trying to get moved down there, get the schedule worked out and meet the kids. I haven’t had a chance to evaluate the players, but I’m ready to get going and hopefully evaluate the whole program really soon.”
Dothan, once a perennial baseball powerhouse, has struggled in recent years. The Tigers have just one winning season since 2001 and one playoff appearance since 2002.
“They were very good for a long time,” Smith said. “They won a state championship in 1978 and had some really good teams in the 80s and 90s, too. They made the playoffs a lot and made a deep run every once in a while. The last ten years or so, they’ve fallen off a little bit, for whatever reason. Our goal is to turn things around and help Dothan become a premier program again.”
Smith said there is plenty of baseball talent in Dothan; there are also plenty of options for where those student-athletes can attend school.
“There’s a ton of baseball talent in Dothan,” he said. “There are two schools in the city, Dothan High and Northview, which is pretty much the northern half of Dothan. There are a few private schools in town, and then there are some really good county programs, too, like G.W. Long, that have won a lot in the last few years.
“Dothan High has lost some talent to other schools. Our goal will be to keep the ones we’ve got there now and hopefully eventually get it to the point where nobody’s leaving. We want those kids to want to be at Dothan.”
Smith has some experience when it comes to building a program. At Northridge, he helped head coach Travis Garner transform the Jaguars from a seven-win team in 2008 to a team that has won 20 or more games in each of the past five seasons. Two years ago, Northridge won the first area championship in the school’s brief history.
Smith believes a similar turnaround is possible at Dothan, where the Tigers won just 12 games last year. And he has very specific ideas about how to get it done.
“Offensively, I believe in being aggressive,” Smith said. “The bats have changed, and the game has changed. We’ll bunt, we’ll hit-and-run, we’ll steal bases. We’ll do the small things right. The days of people hitting a bunch of home runs in high school baseball are pretty much over, unless they change something. Everybody likes to see a ball go over the fence, but doing the little things right and playing small ball will be the key.
“Defensively, we’ll be sound. You have to make the routine plays. There aren’t a lot of 12-10 games any more. If you can make all the routine plays, that can help you win a game 2-1 or 3-2.
“Our pitchers will throw strikes. I hate it when pitchers walk people. As a pitcher, you have to attack the strike zone and see if a high school hitter is good enough to beat you. I want our pitchers to be able to throw three pitches for strikes.”
Smith started at second base for Phil Campbell as a senior in 2003, helping head coach Michael Beck lay the foundation for teams that would make back-to-back trips to the state finals in 2005 and 2006.
“I graduated right before they made those two runs to the state finals,” Smith said. “We were 3A when I played, and then they dropped down to 2A, which helped out a ton. They did very well. I hate I missed out on that.
“I really enjoyed playing for Coach Beck. He was a big drill guy when it came to hitting. I’ve been around three or four coaches with different approaches, and I’ve tried to take something from each one. Coach Beck’s style was very aggressive. He knew how to get the most out of his kids—that’s why they had two state runner-up teams. I took a lot from the hitting aspect of the game, with all the drill work we did. He was really big on that.”
Smith spent his entire playing career at the small-school level, but all of his coaching jobs to date have been at 6A schools.
“I was fortunate to be at Hillcrest in 2007 when they won a state championship,” he said. “I took a year off to get my Master’s, and I’ve been in 6A ball ever since. I haven’t been in small-school ball since Phil Campbell. It’s different. There’s some good and some bad with both. At a small school, the community support is unbelievable. Everything just revolves around the school and athletics. It’s not quite like that at a larger school. They don’t shut down the whole town for a playoff game. There’s too much to do, I guess.
“Dothan kind of has that small-school atmosphere, though. They really want the program to be successful, and everybody wants to be a part of that success.”
The Tigers’ schedule for 2014 is pretty much set, but Smith already has an eye on a potential meeting some time down the road with Winfield, where his dad has led the Pirates to state quarterfinal appearances each of the past two seasons.
“Man, we were gonna try to make it work, but it was a little late in the game to make that happen,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can get that next year.
Jared Smith Named Dothan Baseball Coach
Jared Smith was officially hired as the next Dothan High baseball coach and as a math teacher on Monday night by the Dothan City School Board.
Smith comes to the Tigers after assisting at Northridge High for five years and as a volunteer at Hillcrest in Tuscaloosa.
He says in order to turn things around, the program is going to have to undergo a culture change.
Smith replaces Jarrett Maddox who resigned last month.
The Tigers have not produced a winning season since 2001.
Smith comes to the Tigers after assisting at Northridge High for five years and as a volunteer at Hillcrest in Tuscaloosa.
He says in order to turn things around, the program is going to have to undergo a culture change.
Smith replaces Jarrett Maddox who resigned last month.
The Tigers have not produced a winning season since 2001.
2015 P/C Reid Agrella Named to 2013 ALaBCA Team Alabama
2015 Dothan Pitcher and Catcher Reid Agrella was recently named to the ALaBCA Alabama All-Star Team. Agrella was picked from a pool of over 100 players after a tryout. Team Alabama will play the All-Star Team from Georgia and Tennessee.
