University Southern California Trojans
Baseball Signs J.C. Pitching Recruit
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
June 25, 1998
LOS ANGELES -- Steven Smyth, a lefthanded pitcher from Cypress (Calif.) College, has signed a letter-of-intent to play baseball at USC, Trojan coach Mike Gillespie announced today.
"Steven exploded onto the scene with an outstanding performance at Cypress College this spring," Gillespie said. "He showed that he is one of the elite lefthanders in college baseball and he has a great future ahead of him. He figures prominently into our plans next spring and should enable us to continue our success."
Smyth, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, will be a redshirt sophomore at USC in the fall. He pitched one season at Cypress and earned 1998 All-Orange Empire Conference first team and All-Southern California second team honors. He was 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA and struck out 97 in 95 2/3 innings.
In the Southern California Sectional Playoffs, Smyth threw a four-hit shutout and struck out 10 in a 7-0 victory over Cuesta College.
He was a 13th-round draft choice of the Atlanta Braves in the recent professional draft.
A 1996 graduate of Temecula Valley (Calif.) High School, Smyth earned All-Sun Belt League and All-Riverside County notice.
Last fall, USC signed five players to letters-of-intent: third baseman Sean Burroughs (Wilson High in Long Beach, Calif.), catcher-infielder Beau Craig (Grossmont High in San Diego), pitcher Ryan Madson (Valley View High in Moreno Valley, Calif.), pitcher-outfielder Tim Petke (Portland [Ore.] Lutheran High) and pitcher-infielder Eric Sandberg (Ferris High in Spokane, Wash.). Madson has since signed a professional contract.
The Trojans won an unprecedented 12th NCAA championship earlier this month.
