Milligan College Buffaloes

On Friday morning Blue Devil outfielder Bobby Smith, who will play his senior season this spring, signed to play baseball for the Milligan College Buffaloes in front of his family, coaches, and school officials.

Head UCHS Baseball Coach Charlie Baxter told The Beacon that Smith had a .300 batting average and .900 fielding average for the Devils during the last two seasons.

“Bobby has been a very steady performer for us,” Baxter said. The coach also said that Smith has played in the outfield for the Devils in previous seasons, but will also pitch during the 2009 season. “He had a very good summer pitching.”

Milligan's baseball coach, Nathan Meade, said after Smith signed on Friday that after watching Smith play for UCHS, he was impressed with Smith's defensive skills. “Bobby is a solid defensive player,” Coach Meade commented. “We look for him to continue to develop and improve through the course of four years.”

Meade said Smith will play in the outfield for the Buffaloes.

“Bobby is an all-around good kid,” Meade continued. “He is a good student and a good ball player. He is a good fit for us all around and he comes from a good baseball program.”

The coaching staff and campus at Milligan were two factors that led Smith to choosing Milligan as his college destination. During a visit to the school a few months ago, Smith toured the campus and met with the baseball coaches and players.

“Basically when I visited there I decided that's where I wanted to go…I love the coaches at Milligan,” Smith added. “I couldn't get along with anybody better.”

Smith said that signing to play college ball prior to his senior season “takes a lot of pressure off” him and will “help me relax and play.

Looking forward to his senior season, Smith said that he expects the Blue Devils “will do really well.”

“The way we have played so far this off-season…we should have a good season,” Smith added. “We are getting stronger everyday. I'm looking forward to it.”

Smith plans to major in sports management.