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Fresno's Smith eyes pro ball By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN CENTRAL POINT -- Former Crater High baseball player Hans Smith hopes he's approaching his final season as a major-college pitcher. Smith, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound junior left-hander for the Fresno State Bulldogs, wants to be pitching professionally by summer. He's eligible to be taken next June in the major league free-agent draft. "I've talked to some scouts and they say I'll go high," says Smith, who says he's currently throwing harder and better than he ever has prior to his third season with the Bulldogs. "They say they like the potential I have because I'm 6-foot-9 and I throw left-handed. "If the money is right, I'll sign," says Smith. "I'm ready to play professional baseball." Smith had a 2-1 record, with a 5.61 earned run average in 27 games for Fresno State last season. He made 27 appearances as a reliever and pitched 33 2/3 innings. He had one save. Smith was used strictly as a relief pitcher as a freshman and sophomore by Fresno State coach Bob Bennett. But he may become a starter, and do some spot relief as a closer this season. Bennett likes Smith's potential. "Hans projects out very intersting," says Bennett. "That's because of all the improvement he's made and because of his potential as a big and intimidating pitcher. "A lot of scouts keep talking to me about that 6-9 guy on the mound," says Bennett. "He's pretty impressive. He's improved all his pitches, and his fastball is up near 90 miles per hour. He has all kinds of potential. I'm excited for him because he's worked very hard to get here." Smith says he hopes his improved velocity will help him get more saves, and more victories. "I'm strong enough to throw more than one inning in relief," he says. "I feel a lot more confident this year. But I would also like to see what I can do as a starter." Bennett says he will get his chance. "If we were to start playing today, Hans would be one of four starters," says Bennett. "That could change, but that's how I see it right now. "He's made improvement with all of his pitches, especially his fastball, and he's ready to be a starter. But he could also have a big impact as a closer out of the bullpen. I'm going to have to see how it works out best." Smith had a 12-3 record, with a 1.20 earned run average for Crater High as a senior in 1996. He wasn't heavily recruited out of high school because he was a lean, inexperienced pitcher who threw a fastball around 80 miles per hour, according to Bennett. "Bob saw potential in me out of high school," says Smith. "Nobody else did. I'm grateful for that, and I'm grateful to him for the improvement I've made. "There's no comparison between where I'm at now and where I was in high school," says Smith. "I've improved that much." While he was home for the Christmas holidays, Smith was one of several guest instructors at the Rogue Valley Junior Baseball Camp at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Central Point. "I like working with the kids," says Smith. "I learned that at the camp. It's rewarding to work with the kids and see them coming up. The camp was directed by Crater High varsity baseball coach Chuck Dominiak and his staff. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford,