Haley Smith shows no emotion when she’s in the pitcher’s circle. She’s hard to read and knows how to keep her composure.

Legacy softball head coach Dawn Gaffin describes Smith as a Yeoman. She protects her team as the first line of the defense. Smith throws batters off guard, which is why Gaffin said she believes Smith in the best pitcher in the state.

“Nothing bothers her,” Gaffin said. “Her facial expressions, she’s stone cold smith. She has really come into her own and rightfully so.”

Smith, a junior from Northglenn, has worked hard to guide her team to a 16-5 record going into the 2013 Class 5A state tournament, which will start Oct. 18 in Aurora. Smith leads the league in strikeouts with 139 and in wins with 16. She also leads with 35 RBI.

Smith has been on varsity since her freshman year and has been the starting pitcher for two years. When she began playing softball 10 years ago, she played third base and catcher. But since then, she’s moved to the pitcher’s circle. Being a pitcher doesn’t scare Smith. In fact, it’s exciting for her.

“I like how I’m in every play and I can control the tempo,” Smith said. “Ever since I picked up a ball, I just fell in love with it.”

Smith helped her team through the 5A Region 6 tournament Oct. 12 by beating Prairie View and Grandview 17-0 and 6-1, respectively. Smith pitched a no-hitter, struck out 14 batters and only allowed one run on the day. She also hit a home run in the game against Prairie View.

The junior has gone to the 5A state tournament two times with Legacy. When the team won the state title in 2011, she wasn’t a starter. Last year, they lost in semifinals. Smith remembers quarterfinals in 2012 as being one of her best memories playing with Legacy.

Shortstop Celyn Whitt drove in the winning run to move on to semis. The fact that her teammates were so happy after coming back from being behind, gave her a great feeling.

Junior Whitt and Smith have worked well together this year since Whitt hits in the third spot, while Smith bats clean up. Whitt said she likes being on the field with Smith, because they get along really well.

“I love playing with Haley, we have a great connection,” Whitt said. “We’re both juniors and on and off the field, I couldn’t do it without her.”

After losing at state last year, Smith is ready to guide her team to the championship just like she’s been doing all season long. She said she’s proud of her team and everybody has stepped up to fill big shoes.

“It’s so exciting, we’ve put so much hard work and dedication,” Smith said. “We just go the extra mile so I think we deserve it.”

Softball takes up a lot of time for Smith, so when she’s not on the field, she likes hanging out with her family and friends.

Smith still has one more year at Legacy. In that time, she wants to be more of a vocal leader. As a senior, she just wants to do whatever she can to help out the team. When she leaves, she hopes people will remember what she did for Legacy softball.

“Everybody that’s left Legacy, they’ve left a legacy,” Smith said. “I kind of want to leave one and play for them and play for my team.”