PITCHER MAKES ONE ARM COUNT; TONY SMITH, 8, ALREADY HAS TWO WINS AT TAMMS

Tony Anthony Smith was only 4 when he became aware of Jim Abbott, then a one-armed pitcher for the California Angels.

Now Tony is pitching in the Atom League of the Tamms Khoury Baseball League.

Having the full use of only one arm didn't stop Abbott from becoming a major-league baseball pitcher with some productive years.

Tony also has only one arm to pitch and catch with and already has won two games on the mound this season.

"He's a real competitor at 8," said his father, Jim Smith, who coaches his son's team. "He loves baseball."

Tony, a southpaw from Olive Branch, is playing his fourth season of baseball. He already has three years of T-Ball to his credit.

During an outing last week, Tony threw 55 pitches, 33 of them strikes, as he defeated Olmsted. Earlier in the season, he was a winner when his Tamms Atom team played at Cairo.

He also lends a hand with the bat, hitting at a .400 clip.

"In this 8-year-old division, you see a lot of walks," said Jim Smith. "But Tony is a consistent hitter, in games and practice."

Tony helped his team to victory Thursday night when he smacked a game-winning three-run homer over the Cairo 2 team.

Tamms is 4-1 on the year.

Tony was born without a hand and part of an arm. "He's learned how to catch the ball and get rid of it in a hurry," said his mother, Paula, who attends all his games.

Her son is interested in all sports, she said. "He's a real go-getter. When he's at home, he's always looking for someone to play catch."

Tony is the youngest of two children. He will start the third grade next fall at Egyptian School. His sister, Amber, is 10. She will be in the fifth grade next fall.

"His sister helps in a lot of ways, especially in non-sports projects," his mother said.

When Tony is not pitching, he plays first base.

"And he gives it his all," his mother said. "I credit a lot of this to my husband. Jim works with him and encourages him. We tell him he has to try a little harder.

"We tell him he is handicapped, but not disabled."

Jim Smith, who is a correctional officer at Menard State Prison at Chester, has been coaching boys' league baseball for eight years. Tony has been on his team the past three.

Tony's teammates encourage him, said Jim Smith. "The teammates take to him like any other kid. And when they are on the field playing, Tony is just another kid playing baseball.

"Tony has learned from his teammates, and the teammates have learned from him," said Smith.