Monday, April 13, 1998 | 9:59 a.m.
Jimmy Smith doesn't look like the same pitcher that took the mound last year for the UNLV baseball team -- and it isn't solely a matter of his abandoning his submarine-style delivery.
In addition to a higher release point in his delivery, Smith is bringing something else to the mound this season: confidence.
"I think confidence has been a big boost for him this season," UNLV pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said of Smith, who earned his seventh save in the Rebels' 12-6 victory over Air Force Sunday at Wilson Stadium.
"Coming into the fall, I don't think these guys really had roles coming into the season. I gave (Smith) an opportunity to go out and win the closer role in the fall and he did a great job. We have all the confidence in the world when Jimmy Smith comes in."
Last year, when Smith posted a 2-1 record and a 5.40 earned-run average as a middle reliever, Rebels head coach Rod Soesbe couldn't have said the same.
"He's throwing with a little more velocity (than last year) and he's locating his pitches a lot better," Soesbe said. "He's throwing the ball a lot harder than he did last year.
"I really feel good when he comes in and we've got the lead. He has been real consistent for us and when he comes in and the ballgame's close, he's tough."
Smith, who is 3-0 with a team-leading 2.92 ERA and seven saves in 20 appearances this season, credits first-year pitching coach Stottlemyre with helping him turn around his collegiate career.
"He worked with me all fall, he brought my arm slot up a lot -- I was more submarine (last year) and now I'm more three-quarters -- and I'm throwing the ball a lot harder," Smith said.
Where Smith was lucky to hit the mid-80s on the radar gun last season, the junior right-hander has been flirting with the 90 mph mark this season. The improved velocity is reflected in his strikeout totals. Last year, Smith struck out 22 in 28 1/3 innings and this year he has struck out 28 in 24 2/3 innings.
As a result of the changes he has made, Smith has some professional scouts starting to take notice, Stottlemyre said.
"Last year, a lot of people felt like he was a long way off," Stottlemyre said. "Last year, he was throwing 81, 82, 83 and this year he has hit a whole bunch of 86s and 87s and he has shown some 90s. He has opened some eyes up, I'll tell you."
* REBELS NOTES: Sophomore outfielder Ryan Ludwick was 4-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBIs and junior infielder Kevin Eberwein was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and two RBIs as the Rebels took the rubber game in the series. Eberwein, the Green Valley High product, extended his hitting streak to 18 games and now has a team-leading 22 doubles this season, six shy of the school's single-season record. ... Tony DeMarco and Sean Campbell also hit homers for the Rebels, who improved to 27-15 overall and 10-8 in the Western Athletic Conference. ... Junior left-hander Billy Barker (3-3) got the win, scattering six runs (three earned) on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings. ... Jimmy Smith tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit. ... The Rebels have scored 10 or more runs in five consecutive games and 17 times this season. ... Injury update: Junior right-hander Mike Zipser, sidelined with soreness in his side, is expected to return to action this weekend when the Rebels travel to San Jose State for a three-game series; junior right-hander Bryan Gidge, out with a sore arm, is expected to rejoin the rotation in two weeks, head coach Rod Soesbe said. ... UNLV remains in the running for the sixth and final berth in the WAC Tournament. The Rebels have the sixth-best winning percentage in the conference.
archive
