Hudson Whitmore views hitting as contagious.
And that’s partly why the Haslett baseball coach has viewed Ayden Smith as the perfect person at the top of the lineup for the Vikings.
Smith’s hitting skills and strong instincts on the base paths have helped Haslett put together a strong spring that included making a run to the Diamond Classic semifinals.
This season marked the first Classic appearance in a decade for the Vikings, who head into the state tournament with a 19-11 record.
“(Ayden has) been a big piece of that and a big influence on it,” Whitmore said of Haslett’s success this spring. “That whole senior crew has basically played together and they know each other very well. They also can push each other and that’s a big piece that Ayden has done is being able to push his teammates and help influence that senior crew to really change the culture within our organization.”
Getting an opportunity to experience the Diamond Classic was one of the top goals this spring for Smith, who was voted the latest LSJ boys high school athlete of the week. The Henry Ford Community College commit has hit .374 with 24 RBIs and 38 stolen bases through Tuesday, May 26, games while helping the Vikings get a chance to play in a showcase featuring some of Greater Lansing’s top teams.
Smith helped Haslett make the most of its opportunity in the Classic by sparking an offense that combined for 26 runs in early-round wins over CAAC Blue champion Okemos and Portland. He had a triple, scored two runs and drove in two runs in a 13-2 win over Portland and added a double while going 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI in the 13-4 win over Okemos.
“It’s just a blessing,” Smith said of sparking the Haslett offense. “I’ve been a leadoff hitter since my sophomore year and I know how big it is getting on and starting everything. Even if I don’t get it started I know I can trust my teammates behind me that they are going to get it started as well. When we get hot, we get hot and we can all hit one through nine.”
While Smith has made a big impact with his bat during his career, his growth defensively has also been vital for the Vikings. He opted to not play basketball this season to focus on improving his defensive footwork and mechanics on the diamond.
“He’s always swung the bat well for me, but with his defense he’s really picked it up over the last couple of years,” Whitmore said. “Halfway through the year last year we had a conversation about how we need to stop trying to make the fancy play and take the outs that are given to us. Ever since then he’s been really locked in and been able to cut down on his errors and be a solid person there in the middle of our defense.”
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on X @brian_calloway and Bluesky @briancalloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ayden Smith sparking improved season for Haslett baseball
Reporting by Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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