Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers

Although many program records have been shattered in recent years, Northwest pitcher Harley Smith's accomplishments continue to stand.

A 2016 Lake Cormorant High School alumna, Smith spent two seasons with coach Mike Rowan and the Northwest softball team from 2017-18. Smith wasted no time making an immediate impact, starting all 41 games during her freshman season in the circle or at first base. As a freshman, she helped the Rangers to a 22-20 record and the program's first playoff appearance since 2015.

Smith finished the 2017 season with a 12-10 record in the circle and a 4.43 earned run average. Her 104 strikeouts ranked sixth-most in a single season at the time and she held opposing batters to just 14 walks. Overall, Smith compiled 143.2 innings of work, finishing with 11 complete games and two shutouts, earning First Team All-MACJC honors.

As a sophomore, Smith collected 10 wins in the circle with a 2.60 earned run average and 62 strikeouts. Although the Rangers narrowly missed the playoffs, she was selected as the MACJC Pitcher of the Week and NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Week twice, while also earning NFCA All-Region Second Team accolades and another First Team All-MACJC selection.

For her career, Smith currently ranks third in pitching appearances (57), fourth in innings pitched (270.0), fifth in wins (22), sixth in complete games (23), sixth in shutouts (4) and seventh in strikeouts (166). At the plate, she also batted .325 with six home runs. Additionally, her 33 pitching appearances as a freshman still rank as the fourth-most in a single season, while her 143.2 innings pitched rank fourth and her 126.1 innings pitched as a sophomore rank eighth in a single season.

Smith also garnered numerous academic honors during her time at Northwest, joining Phi Theta Kappa and earning four nods to the President's List. She was also selected as an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, Distinguished Academic All-MACJC and NJCAA All-Academic Second Team.

Following Northwest, Smith hung up the cleats and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography from Baptist Health Sciences University in Memphis in 2021, graduating at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA. Despite her busy schedule, she remained closely involved with the sport of softball, helping coach competitive softball for three years. 

Smith's coaching stint would help pave the way for her future position as the head softball coach at DeSoto Central High School. Shortly after graduation, she began teaching and serving as an assistant coach at DCHS, before being promoted to the head coaching position ahead of the 2023-24 school year. Last season, the Lady Jaguars finished with a 21-12 overall record and a runner-up finish in the Class 7A North Half State Championship.

Today, Smith also teaches science and gives pitching and hitting lessons. Since June 2023, she has been married to her husband, Matt Bumpous, a teacher and assistant baseball coach at DeSoto Central.