Boomer Sooner: Smithburg to OU

OTTUMWA — Former Fairfield ace Nate Smithburg has been rising up the ranks in the collegiate pitching rhelm since graduating in 2022, and he’ll be on to even greener pastures as he continues his career at a Division 1 school.

Smithburg, who currently pitches for Indian Hills Community College baseball team, announced via social media earlier this fall that he would commit to the University of Oklahoma, and recently signed his letter of intent, putting him right on track to join the Sooners next year.

Smithburg says he was all ready to commit to a different school, though it didn’t completely feel right. When he contacted Oklahoma to tell the Sooners the news, the school gave him an offer over the phone.

“It was pretty stressful,” said Smithburg. “I went on a couple of other visits, and I still didn’t feel truly at home at any of them yet. I knew Oklahoma was where my heart really wanted to go.”

Smithburg says he hadn’t even visited Oklahoma yet before they sent in the offer, a welcome relief that cleared up his baseball future.

“It felt right,” Smithburg said. “I love the coaching staff, and there’s no other place I’d rather spend my next couple of years.”

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Smithburg is currently in his second year at Indian Hills. Last spring, he was tied for first among Warrior pitchers with 20 appearances out of the bullpen. He was 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA and 43 strikeouts.

In high school, Smithburg was a shooting star for the Trojans. He made the All-Southeast Conference team three times and was named to the Class 3A All-State team in his senior year after posting a 6-1 record and a 0.45 ERA. Smithburg struck out 83 batters in his senior season, by far the best mark on the team.

Smithburg credits the coaching staff at Fairfield for preparing him for the collegiate level. He says the Trojan baseball program helped him arrive at college with a good head on his shoulder.

“I’d like to thank Coach (Josh) Allison and (Assistant Coach) Corey Klehm for how much effort they put into me,” Smithburg said. “I know I was one of the more hardheaded guys they’ve had to coach.”

Smithburg says Coach Allison and Coach Klehm coached him the ‘right way’ and that he wasn’t surprised by the workload once he got to college, although he did admit there were some hurdles when it came to taking on college hitters.

“Truthfully I didn’t have a great fall season last year, as far as my first time pitching to college hitters,” Smithburg said. “Going from high school hitters, where I can just out-talent them, I can’t do that here.”

Next school year, Smithburg will have plenty of talented hitters to pitch to. The Sooners will be moving into the Southeast Conference, which hosts some of the best teams in the entire NCAA.

The Sooners were 32-28 last season and 11-13 in the Big 12. This spring will be Oklahoma’s last year playing in the Big 12 before the conferences realign in the fall of 2024.

In closing, Smithburg again thanked his coaches both in Fairfield and at Gamers Academy in Ottumwa for helping him develop his skills, as well as his mother, Megan Smithburg, for always believing in him.