Reserve Hitches Full Ride From Screen Test

Aubree Smithey is not a star for the El Camino Real High softball team.

Not even a starter, for that matter.

The senior infielder has 30 varsity at-bats and a familiar spot on the bench.

But Smithey is going places, and softball is taking her there.

Thanks to an industrious mother and a five-minute videotape, Smithey has a full athletic softball scholarship to University of Texas at San Antonio, a Division I program since 1991.

Surprisingly, the two-sport athlete signed a letter of intent to play for the Roadrunners months before she had secured a spot on the Conquistador squad.

She failed to make the varsity team as a sophomore and junior after starting as a freshman on the junior varsity team.

In a City Championship quarterfinal today against Granada Hills, Smithey, who plays first and third base, may never make it out of the dugout. She didn’t play Tuesday in El Camino Real’s 5-0 first-round victory over Washington.

But she’s not complaining.

“I’m a role player,” Smithey said. “I can deal with that because it’s my first year on the [varsity] team. When [Coach Lori Chandler] needs me, I’ll be ready.

“I don’t like sitting on the bench, but I enjoy cheering for my team. . . and being a part of the team.”

Smithey, who is batting .333 with eight runs batted in, backs up first baseman Lily Landers and third baseman Megan Zwoyer, neither of whom have scholarships.

“She hasn’t had a really good chance to show what she can do,” Chandler said. “She’s playing behind two tough kids who are playing great right now.”

Chandler wanted Smithey on the team mostly for her enthusiasm and work ethic. Chandler coached Smithey in basketball for three years and loves her positive attitude and fortitude.

“I was going to have her on the team regardless,” Chandler said. “She’s a great kid.”

Still, Chandler was surprised to learn of Smithey’s scholarship to Texas at San Antonio.

She wasn’t the only one.

Classmates have asked Smithey all year if she is going to college. When she tells them of her scholarship, most are confused.

“They all asked me if [the scholarship] was for basketball and I said, ‘No, it’s for softball,’ ” Smithey said. “And half the people didn’t even know I played [softball].”

Smithey played baseball with boys in the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League from ages 9 to 13. She didn’t play softball until high school.

“I was never exposed to softball,” she said. “I don’t think my dad really knew there was competition for girls [in softball], that’s why he had me play with guys.”

Smithey cut her teeth playing against boys in baseball, soccer and basketball, and on various all-star teams. Last summer she played for a local travel softball team that didn’t qualify for nationals.

“This child in every sport has done well,” said Cheryl Smithey, Aubree’s mother.

Like most parents, Alf and Cheryl Smithey are their daughter’s biggest fans.

But Cheryl’s support goes beyond cheering from the stands.

After getting advice from the mother of a former El Camino Real player, Cheryl worked to get her daughter a scholarship.

The Smitheys sent about 100 introduction letters to universities, followed by nearly 50 highlight videotapes to schools that suited Aubree’s interests.

The last school to receive the video was San Antonio.

And it was an instant hit with Coach Corrie Hill.

“My assistant was watching the video and when I walked in, he said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to see this,’ ” Hill said. “I saw it and said, ‘Get on the phone.’ ”

While Cheryl Smithey is relieved her hard work paid off, she is not surprised a college coach can see what she sees in her daughter.

“Anybody that knows anything about sports would want her. . . and they did,” Cheryl said.

Chandler agrees.

“Given the opportunity, she may shine down there,” Chandler said.

Cheryl Smithey is betting on it.

“She will excel,” she said. “Mark my words.”