Smith's Gem helps Springfield Catholic Beat Strafford to Win District Title
by Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield Catholic coach Courtney Spitz projected the Irish would have a big addition to their pitching staff for the postseason.
Senior pitcher Jack Smith, stretched out in a starting role.
Smith, who missed the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery, began throwing bullpen sessions in early April this year. He was cleared for game action a few weeks later and pitched about 20 innings in the regular season.
"We knew we had an ace in the stable," Spitz said. "It was about getting him healthy and making sure we're protecting his arm and doing things the right way, not rushing the process.
"We knew this time of year we'd have him, and we liked that."
You can always count on a Smith to deliver in the postseason.
Jack Smith did just that on Tuesday night, as he twirled a three-hit gem to lift Springfield Catholic to an 8-2 victory over Strafford in the Class 4 District 10 Tournament championship game.
Smith struck out seven and allowed no walks over 5 1/3 innings to help Catholic earn its first district title since 2023, when the Irish went on to finish state runner-up in Class 4.
The Irish will host a Class 4 sectional game next Tuesday, May 26.
"Words don't describe it," Smith said. "We've worked so hard – in practice, off days, the entire season – to get to this. But the job's not finished."
Smith is the younger brother of former Catholic pitcher Ben Smith, who was a staff ace for Catholic's back-to-back final four teams in 2022 and 2023.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Spitz has coached both players and said they share a similar mindset.
"They're so professional. They're gamers," Spitz said. "They want the ball in the big moments. I have all the trust in the world in those guys."
Said Jack Smith: "It's super special. I've always looked up to (Ben). He's been a mentor. I just try to take after him and work hard."
A disciplined Catholic lineup drew five walks and tallied four hits against Strafford starter Crue Crawford, who struck out four over 2 2/3 innings. The Irish plated their first two runs on bases-loaded walks.
"I don't think we ever necessarily (try to) build pitch counts up, because then you become defensive at the plate," Spitz said. "We were trying to attack pitches in our zone. We wanted to stay disciplined and make sure we swung at good pitches.
"We wanted to be educated hitters."
Catholic, which stranded 10 baserunners in the game, finally broke the floodgates open with a four-run fifth inning against Strafford's bullpen.
Conner Fenske's RBI triple put Catholic ahead 5-2. Nic Ruter (the younger brother of another former Catholic star, Ben Ruter) delivered the big blow with a 2-run homer over the left field fence.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
The Irish (19-12 overall) have played a stacked schedule this spring. Nine of their 12 losses came against Class 5 or Class 6 schools.
"We just kept emphasizing, 'These adversity moments will pay off,'" Spitz said.
Spitz pointed to a mid-April team meeting, when the Irish were toiling around the .500 mark, as the turning point in the season.
"I asked all my seniors, 'What do I need to do to make sure we get this thing on the right track?'" Spitz said. "They were honest with me and we made some adjustments, philosophy-wise and culture-wise, and I think it's paid off."
Eli Clark had a sac-fly RBI in the first inning to give Strafford a 1-0 lead. The Indians (17-15 overall) were seeking their first district since 2021.