In 13th season, Northeast High's Dustin Smith savors region title

The ground ball back to the pitcher that resulted in the final out of the Region 5-AAA baseball tournament was a moment that Northeast High coach Dustin Smith needed to savor.

Smith walked in to Northeast High 13 years ago with a promise to turn a struggling program around. The turnaround happened a long time ago, but postseason success has seemed to largely avoid Eagles baseball.

But after Wednesday's 6-1 win against Beech in the region championship, that success has finally arrived. If Northeast advances no further, it's still not up for debate about just how impressive this season has been.

Northeast knows belief is recipe for breakthrough

"Northeast won two games in two years when I came in," Smith said on the ride back from Beech on Wednesday night. "There were days when I felt we had the kind of team that could make a run at state. Then there were years where I wondered if we could even win a game in district."

But persistence has paid off. Not only has Smith had the support of his school administration throughout the years, but he, himself, has been patient.

Now he has a team, packed with seniors (11), who are tired of hearing about how talented but snake-bitten their program has been. Seven straight 20-win seasons have resulted in district tournament disappointment, until this season. Although Northeast lost to Clarksville in the District 10 title game, a region run through Wilson Central (3-0, Monday) and Beech on Wednesday has the Eagles on the cusp of their goal.

"I took a deep breath after that last out (Wednesday)," Smith said. "I stood and watched the kids celebrate. It was great because it's not about me. It's about the kids. I wanted them to enjoy the moment."

Smith has spent many frustrating nights wondering if his initial promise to the program would ever have a chance to get off the ground. Last year the Eagles finished tied for first in the regular season in district and couldn't get out of the district tournament.

"All those negative thoughts start to fill your head," Smith said. "I'm wondering will it ever happen for us. All the work and all the time you put in, the kids put in, and it wasn't happening for us."

But then Smith essentially revealed what makes baseball so hard but rewarding in the end.

"You spend a lot of time trying to teach teenagers how to deal with failure in this game," he said. "In baseball, if you bat .300, you're a Hall of Famer. But high school kids want to have success immediately. You have to be patient and good things will come."

The good part now is Northeast will get to host its first sectional game in 20 years. It'll face Brentwood at 7 Friday night so there will be little time to celebrate its first region title since 1997.

Eagles ace Mitch Rogers pitched four innings but had a low pitch count. Collin Loose will get the start against the Bruins, but Rogers will be available as well as the rest of the Eagles staff.

"State is on the line so we'll have everyone ready to go," Smith said.

Reach prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.