BRADY SMITH ANNOUNCES HE'S OFF TO GANNON COLLEGE IN THE USA

South Australian Brady Smith has worked his way into an opportunity to play baseball overseas.

Later this month, Smith will fly to Erie, Pennsylvania to attend Gannon College. He’ll join the baseball team later in the academic year.

It’s a big step for South Aussie catcher and the longtime member of the Adelaide Angels.

“I decided to go to college in the USA because I wanted to further my education and play baseball at a higher level. I have aspirations to play professional baseball,” the South Australian says.

Smith, a member of the Performance Pathways program in South Australia, was connected to Gannon through Josh Lapiana – an old import who played for his clubball team.

“I want to improve all factors of my baseball skills and life skills with communication by meeting new people in a whole new country. I want to experience everything it has to offer,” he says.

Smith has been playing A-Grade for a number of seasons now, despite just turning 18. He played for South Australia’s U16 and U18 state teams while rising the junior ranks.

Smith also attended Australia’s U18 national camp last August.

He says a wide number of individuals in the South Australian baseball community had an influence over him.

“Some of my biggest influence the last couple years have been my high performance managers Riley Moore and Austin Gallagher. Obviously my parents have been the biggest influences in my life, always pushing me to become better in baseball and become a better person as well,” he says.

Smith has been long involved at all levels of the South Australian community. When he’s not playing, he’s helping coach. When he’s not coaching? He’s helping around the club. When he’s not doing any of those, he’s been training.

He says Adelaide Giants’ manager Chris Adamson has also been massive for him.

“He’s let me train with the Giants, catch their bullpens on game days, and helped me by being able to talk to professional players about what they do and how they approach baseball,” he says. “Also being able to work with Chris on catching and hitting has helped tremendously.”

Brady says beyond baseball, he hopes to become an English or Maths teacher.

He departs May 18.

By Eric Balnar