FARMINGTON -- Jordin Smith, a senior at Farmington, signed a national letter of intent Friday to play women's college softball at Hendrix College, a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Conway.
Smith has compiled a 13-4 record on the mound for Farmington this season. In more than 86 innings pitched, she has 61 strikeouts and 23 walks with an earned run average of 2.988.
"Going from high school ball to play college has always been a dream of mine," Smith said.
Farmington coach Randy Osnes, whom Jordin credits with helping develop her speed pitching, said Smith has been the Lady Cardinals' everyday starter as a pitcher for the past two seasons and is in the batting lineup as a hitter when she's not pitching.
Smith has nine RBIs so far this season with three home runs, including one grand-slam.
"She's been up here around this field since she was 8 or 9 pitching to her dad, and her mom has followed us all around but the most important part of all this is the education she's going to get at Hendrix," Osnes said.
She plans to major in math with the ambition to become an algebra teacher while also pursuing a coaching degree.
Smith also considered Harding University at Searcy and worked out recently with the Searcy softball staff.
"It just didn't click," said Lorinda Smith, Jordin's mother, who noted her daughter and Hendrix softball coach Amy Weaver formed a relationship she was comfortable with almost instantly.
"I just stand back and watch. Even with Jordin's diabetes, she's (Coach Weaver) going to watch over her. I have no concerns."
Sports on 04/29/2014