Block, Smith inducted

Two longtime and successful members of the state’s softball establishment have been inducted into the Oklahoma Slow-Pitch Softball Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
Tommy Block and David Smith were inducted during ceremonies last Saturday at the All-State Slow-Pitch games in Norman.
Block, a teacher at Bethel High School for 28 years, has amassed a slow-pitch record of 304-43.
In a 10-year slow-pitch coaching stint, Block recorded four state championships — 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. All 10 of his slow-pitch softball squads advanced to the state tourney.
He has also coached baseball, basketball, girls’ golf and fast-pitch softball.
A Shawnee High School 1977 graduate, Block went on to play baseball at Seminole Junior College and Southeastern Oklahoma State. He earned a BS in physical education and a minor in biological sciences.
Block still coaches the Lady Wildcats’ fast-pitch squad while serving as athletic director. He also teaches biology.
Smith launched the softball program at Davenport, where the 1993 squad reached the state semifinals and the 1994 squad earned a state championship.
Author of a 79-18 record at Davenport, Smith then served as Prague’s head coach from 1995 to 2000. He fashioned a 121-19 coaching record for the Lady Red Devils, including state semifinalist appearances in 1999 and 2000.
He served as an assistant coach at Prague from 2003 to 2007 with the 2006 team reaching the state quarterfinals and the 2007 edition posting a state championship.
His overall record in eight years of coaching Prague was 200-37.
Smith, who was inducted into the Fast-Pitch Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2002, currently serves as the Prague High School principal.