Tony Smith has inherited the passion of baseball.

By Maya Stone
Guest Writer

ROCHESTER — Tony Smith grew up in Fulton County and from a very young age fell in love with the sport of softball. From the inspiration of his brother and father, Smith joined a team when he was 15 years old.

“I must have inherited the passion of baseball as a gene from them, it runs in our family.” Smith said. Throughout his childhood and into his young adult life he played baseball until making the decision to switch over to softball. “I never played in college but softball gave that same feeling of belonging,” he mentioned.

For the past 26 years he has played softball regularly in the CCAC Warsaw League in Warsaw.

Shown is one of the baseball teams Tony Smith played on and the trophy they won in a tournament. Photo provided by Tony Smith.

To Smith, the sport of softball is so much more than just a ball being thrown around a field or who wins the game. He fell in love with it because of the connections he made and the people he met. Softball became his family and as a single dad of two kids it’s important to have that structure in his life.

When softball season comes around his kids are always so excited to go out and see everyone. Not only do his teammates make a lasting bond with him, but they bring his kids into the family and make them feel as though they too are a part of the team.

“I’m a very family oriented man, so having the team treat everyone as one is an amazing experience.”

When asked his favorite memory when playing softball, he said he has a hard time choosing, as there are so many great experiences he’s had not only on the field but off it as well.

Off the field is when he gets to strengthen the bonds that later help them play better as a team on the field. But one memory does stick out to him. He was about to play in Owensboro, Ky., in the middle of a tobacco field in his early stages of baseball. That trip further drew him into the sport and forged his love into a passion. He went on that trip when he played for a travel team, before joining the CCAC league.

Smith has made so many memories over the years and while he did spend a great deal of time on the field he doesn’t regret a single moment and wouldn’t change anything. He knows that growing older this is still going to be something he spends his time doing and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “The love of baseball is ongoing and no matter what age I get that love will never stop.”