Former Rhea County High School Lady Eagle Delaney will play in 20th Annual All-Star game on June 19th: Best of Preps Banquet is 27th.
June 17, 2017
Dayton, TN — Recently graduated and future Memphis Lady Tiger softball player, Delaney Smith recently was selected first team Best of Preps and was selected for the Tennessee All-Star team that plays on Monday at UTC Stadium. The game pits the best softball players from Tennessee vs North Georgia and will be at Frost Stadium beginning at 6 pm. There will be a double header. Delaney is the second player every selected from Rhea County for the All-Star game.
As a junior, Delaney finished the season with a .623 batting average with 40 stolen bases and 81 total hits.
For her career at Rhea County, Smith is a .588 hitter with 210 hits, 147 runs scored, and a .989 fielding percentage. She is the individual record-holder for stolen bases at her high school.
Delaney also excelled in the classroom as she graduated with honors and distinction and honor student and and had 18 hours dual enrollment classes through Chattanooga state Delaney’s final GPA was 3.865.
Coach Price said, “Delaney continues to pile up awards. Delaney has won season awards every year she has been Rhea County softball team. Delaney won All District and Most Valuable Player this year for District 6-AAA.”
“She has been such a huge part of the success of this team and I’m really going to miss her. Rhea County had a special athlete and I can’t express how proud I am of her. She not only has the God given talent but she is always willing to work on her game and you can’t ask for much more than that. I’m excited to see what she will do at the next level!”
At Delaney’s signing with Memphis earlier this year, Leah said,”One of my favorite times with Delaney was when she hit a home run. We were playing Warren county and on most occasions before the game Delaney tells me she is going to hit a home run. So about her 4th or 5th at bat she kills one over right center fence.Her trot around the bases was probably faster than most people’s sprint but she could not control her excitement. So after the inning is over I’m walking towards the dugout to congratulate her and she comes sprinting at me and about tackles me jumping into my arms. Those are the moments that mean so much as a coach. The pure excitement and passion for the game is so special to see in a player. And I think that is how she lives her life also giving everything that she has to whatever she is doing.”
“I just want to say how proud I am of Delaney. When Delaney was trying out for middle school her seventh grade year I came to the tryouts to watch and help out. I remember seeing her in center field and she was so tiny. But I thought that little girl is a spitfire, as I have coached her these last 5 years there has not been a thing about her that has changed. The little fast and tough ball player that she was then is still true today.”
“She is one of the most competitive girls that I have ever coached. The kind of kid you want up to bat for you or want the ball to go to because you know she will give everything she has got. Along with her God given talent she has amazing work ethic. There was a period of time she was playing every weekend and asking me to come hit with her throughout the week. Delaney is a very special girl who will be very successful at the next level. She has used The gifts God has given her and I’m excited to see what her future holds. I have never doubted her desire to play or her love for the game. I have really enjoyed coaching her and it’s gonna be really hard for me to let this one go!”
“I want to thank her parents also for all that they have done as I have been her coach. They have supported me as I have coached their daughter and they don’t know how much that means to me. They have worked very hard for her as well and I know she is very grateful for them. Memphis doesn’t get her yet though, I’m excited to see how this season will go for us this year!”