Jenn Smith signs to Northwest Mississippi CC

Hard work and dedication has led one of the top hitters in Warren County to this point of signing a softball scholarship just a few months shy of her senior season.

Warren Central High School’s Jenn Smith signed her named on the dotted line on Wednesday to take her talents to Northwest Mississippi Community College.

At the age of four, Smith’s father introduced her to softball and she’s been swinging a bat ever since. From that young age, she has grown to love the game.

“I like to hit, but I love playing in the outfield  because I get to run all over the place,” Smith said.

Smith first began playing softball for WC as a freshman under former Head Coach Dana McGivney. By her 2022 sophomore year, Smith was one of the top hitters in the state and batting over .500 at one point of that season.

“I was taking a lot of hitting lessons back then and I didn’t think as much when I walked up to the plate,” Smith added.

Smith recalls one of her greatest softball memories is hitting her first home run against Madison Central.

Jenn Smith: Photo by Keith Phillips

“I didn’t really think it went over until I looked at Coach Mac(McGivney),” Smith said.

Smith would play under McGivney throughout her junior year where she helped the Lady Vikes advance to the second round of the playoffs. Midway through the season, McGivney announced she was leaving for Oxford at the end of the season.

“She taught me to not take things too seriously because sometimes I do and she taught me to not think two steps ahead but it was upsetting knowing she was leaving and knowing that the more games we played would be the less time she’d be there,” Smith said.

Smith has earned her stripes and proved that she can be a true leader. NWCC jumped on a chance to offer her a scholarship quickly in which she gladly accepted.

“Once I saw the campus and the field, I felt right at home and I knew it was the place I wanted to be,” Smith added.

Smith put in the hard work to get to where she is but she didn’t hesitate to thank those who were with her along the way.

“I want to thank my family, past and present coaches, my friends, teammates and past and present teachers,” she said.

Warren Central softball team: Photo by Richard Miller

Smith will play her final season under Head Coach Brian Ellis and she has her eyes set on becoming the 2024 VDN Softball Player of the Year.

Jenn Smith with coaches Brian Ellis and Katie Jackson: Photo by Richard Miller

Jenn is the daughter of Patrick and Trisha Smith.

Smith’s Awards:

• Offensive MVP
• All-District
• All-County

L-R Kaylee Hoeft, Jenn Smith, Dana McGivney and Mandy Fuller: Photo from Twitter