DEL.ICIO.USThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/24/08
The death of a popular Duluth-area youth softball coach killed in an Alabama traffic accident has hit the community hard, friends said Thursday.
However, spirits lifted upon hearing news that the coach's daughter, critically injured in the same accident, has been taken off a ventilator and is recovering.
 Family photo | ||
| Steve Smartt with daughter Sydney. She played on the youth-league softball team he coached. | ||
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Steve Smartt and his daughter, Sydney, 15, were driving home from a softball tournament in Panama City, Fla., Sunday when their car crashed near Troy, Ala. Steve Smartt, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car, according to local newspaper reports in Dothan, Ala. (www.dothaneagle.com).
The condition of Sydney Smartt, a rising freshman at Greater Atlanta Christian, was upgraded from critical to guarded at a Montgomery hospital Thursday.
The accident occurred about 11 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 231 five miles north of Troy, when Sydney Smartt was driving and lost control of the vehicle, according to the news reports of the accident. Sydney Smartt had been wearing a seat belt, the reports said.
Sydney Smartt was taken off a ventilator Thursday morning and is "improving rapidly," according to GAC softball coach Judy Tenney, who visited the teen Monday and keeps in touch regularly with Sydney's mother.
Sydney remains in "guarded condition" with multiple injuries, Tenney said.
"The hope is she'll be able to be transferred to Scottish Rite at the end of the week," Tenney said.
About 100 friends of the Smartt family gathered at GAC Wednesday night and prayed for Sydney.
The 15-year-old is able to gesture and understands what people are saying to her, according to Tenney, but it's too painful for her to speak yet.
"She knew it was me talking to her mom on the phone this [Thursday] morning," Tenney said. "Her mom said, 'It's Coach Tenney,' and she blew me a kiss."
Sydney, a pitcher and second baseman, is making big strides but "has a long road to recovery," Tenney said.
She played for her father on the Georgia Force, a youth-league team that had just competed at a softball World Series, according to the team Web site.
A brief tribute to the coach on the Georgia Force's Web site said he spent the last week of his life doing the two things he most enjoyed: spending time with his family and coaching fast-pitch softball. It reads in part: "The memories we shared with Steve on and off the field will be cherished forever."
Steve Smartt's death has devastated the entire community, Tenney said.
"It has just been horrific," she said.
"He was a great guy and a great coach," said Eric Turner, assistant coach with the team.
Visitation will be Friday night at AS Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Campus Church of Christ in Norcross.
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