Anyone who has followed Tahoma High baseball knows Taylor Smart is someone special, but this summer he caught the attention of some of best in the business.

Smart was chosen as one of a few select players from the state to participate in the Tommy Lasorda Elite Games. The games are a baseball tournament for the top players in the western region of the United States. The teams compete for the Lasorda Cup.

The players were invited to play on one of four teams Aug. 28, 29 and 30 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.

Following Tahoma High’s baseball season when the Bears played at Safeco Field in the state tournament, Smart played summer ball with the Chaffey Baseball Club. His hitting and fielding caught the eye of Dodger scout Hank Jones and Smart was asked to join the Lasorda team.

“He (Jones) really liked me,” Smart said.

The three day tournament began Friday, Aug. 28, when the ballplayers worked with the coaches. The games were played on Saturday , Aug. 29 and Sunday, Aug. 30.

In the first game Smart played shortstop and second and in the second game he played the entire game at second base.

During the Friday batting practice Smart said, “Tommy Lasorda was behind the batting cage helping me out. That was quite an experience to have a Hall of Fame coach say what he likes. It was cool.”

When Smart has the stick in his hands he knows how to turn on a pitch and it didn’t take long for Lasorda to pick him out of the group.

“Tommy Lasorda said I was the best hitter he had seen that day. He said I was going to be a really good hitter for a long time.”

Smart said he didn’t get a hit in the first game, but he broke out in the second going 2-3 with a triple and a double.

“It was really a good experience,” Smart said. “Dodger stadium was unbelievable. It just seemed like it keeps going up and up.”

Smart credits his dad, Dave Smart, for his success, “for everything from being a dad to constantly throwing pitches to me in the cage.”

He also said coach Bill Stubbs has worked with him since he was 7-years-old and helped turn him into a top player.

The young Maple Valley baseball player has shown he has the right stuff, and like Dodger stadium he just keeps going up and up.