Head to Western, young man

When Western Illinois University made its pitch, Jason Smith listened.

Now the Morrison graduate is going to be a pitcher for the Leathernecks.

Smith, a key member of the Morrison team that placed third in the Class 2A state tournament and finished with a 29-3 record, announced he has accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball at the Macomb school. It is a three-quarters scholarship, and he plans to study criminal justice.

“It was the best option I had, and I’m very excited about it,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Smith had been leaning toward Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, which also offered him a scholarship. After the state tournament, in which he pitched 8 2/3 innings over two games and allowed three earned runs, WIU coach Stan Hyman contacted him.

Smith made a trip to Macomb that week and liked what he saw.

“I liked the campus, the coaches – everything,” Smith said.

Evansville and Eastern Illinois also contacted Smith after the state tournament, but made no scholarship offers.

Smith went 11-2 with a 1.09 earned run average in 77 1/3 innings pitched this past season. He had an area-best 116 strikeouts.

Smith also batted .333 with 24 runs scored, 19 RBIs, six doubles, four home runs and two triples.

WIU was 13-33 in 2009, including an 8-16 mark in the Summit League.

Smith file

High school: Morrison, class of 2009

College: Western Illinois

FYI: Was Three Rivers Conference player of the year in football, basketball and baseball this year.