Coupeville Sports

Kurtis Smith lets rip with a throw from the outfield. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

The softer side of Smith, as he hangs out with his nephew, Liam.

Kurtis and dad Mike.

Kurtis Smith has large shoes to fill.

The Coupeville High School baseball star is the youngest of DeeAnna Smith’s four children, and the first three — Kassie and Kayla Lawson and Katie Smith — were all superb athletes for the Wolves.

Kassie played college basketball and Katie was a brilliant three-sport star from the first moments of her freshman year, and that’s just the start.

Not that Kurtis has exactly been a slouch himself. When he wants to keep up with his sisters, he just needs to remind them he won a state championship.

Smith was the pitcher on the mound at the exact moment the Central Whidbey Junior Little League team crowned itself the best in Washington in 2010. It’s a moment he still remembers vividly.

“The number one highlight of my baseball career was winning state,” Smith said. “We had most of the same players we have now and we put incredible effort towards our season with great rewards.

“I still remember the last inning. I was pitching, one runner on, two outs. Line shot to Korbin Korzan — my heart stopped as I watched him dive, but within seconds the game was over with an outstanding catch,” he added. “My coach preceded to pick me up and carry me around. Winning state was one of the happiest times of my life.”

While he’s bounced around through other sports (“I can’t say I have stuck with any others and none interest me at the moment, but me and Brian Norris get down when it comes to pickle-ball”) it’s life on the diamond that he has always held dear.

And like a lot of kids, his love of the game came from shared times with his dad.

“I’ve played baseball since the day I was old enough to join a league. I started right up at tee ball and haven’t stopped since,” Smith said. “Baseball was a necessity when it came to my dad’s opinion and after I started, it was hard to disagree.

“If it weren’t for my dad, it’s safe to say I might have never tried out baseball,” he added. “He was the one who pushed me to play and I’m thankful for every baseball game I have gotten to play.”

While his dad got him hooked, Kurtis is also quick to acknowledge the contributions his mom and grandmother Laurie Smith made to help his baseball career, particularly at the early stages. Financial support, buying him gear and getting him to games before he could drive himself were invaluable.

Over the years he’s played just about every position (catcher and first base being the only exceptions) with Wolf coach Willie Smith moving him into the outfield, while also calling on him for occasional pitching duties.

Wherever he plays, Smith deeply enjoys his time on the playing field.

“Baseball has really morphed into a key aspect of my life; playing baseball is near first on my priority list,” Smith said. “I really like everything about the game; it challenges you mentally, having to know the situation of the game before the next pitch is thrown. It’s also physically challenging and requires great effort, while at the same time it takes great skill to play the sport.

“I will admit I like the fact that even if you screw up 7/10 times you are still an amazing player,” he added. “Last of all I like the bonding I have with my team. I’ve been playing baseball with most of the guys on my team since I started playing baseball.”

A dangerous hitter, he’s honed his skills by attending camps and working on his plate skills during open gyms. With the move to the outfield, he’s also putting in time working on his throwing.

“I have developed good form and have wrapped my head around the thought process a hitter needs to acquire,” Smith said. “What I am really working on right now is arm strength. It isn’t an easy strength to build, but like anything, with time and effort I should improve it.”

Away from the field, he is a man of many facets, a huge fan of “Pulp Fiction,” a founding member of “The Shower Boys” (“I always look forward to shower time with my boys, baseball team as well as soccer team!”) who finds enjoyment in both weight training and calculus.

“I love to keep in shape and stay fit,” Smith said. “On the other hand I love how easy math comes to me and just the accomplishment of solving a long, complex calculus problem.”

He’s also a self-described techie and built his computer by hand after getting the parts online. He spends most of his money upgrading it, and continues to tinker.

Through it all, he operates to a wide-ranging soundtrack.

“I like a wide variety of of music including rap, rock, alternative, pop, some blues and many other genres,” Smith said. “What you won’t hear me listening to by my own free will is country and screamo.”