CRANBERRY TWP — Hard work pays off.

It certainly did in Tyler Smith's case.

The Cranberry Township resident and incoming senior at Seneca Valley recently was one of 21 baseball players chosen to represent Pennsylvania in the Big 26 Border Klash, a three-game series against all-stars from Maryland.

Smith made the cut through two rounds of tryouts. The first, which took place in April at North Allegheny High School, included nominated players from all over Western Pennsylvania.

Players from every corner of the state then met at Shippensburg University in May for the second tryout.

Smith found out he had made the team a few days later and traveled to Waldorf, Md., in late July to face Maryland's best.

The games were held at Blue Crabs Stadium, home to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, an independent professional team in the Atlantic League.

“The field was amazing,” said Smith. “In the clubhouse, every player had his own locker. I go in there and there's my uniform, game jersey, practice jersey, hat, pants, everything just hanging there. They treated us like pro players and it was really cool.”

Maryland won the first and second game by scores of 10-8 and 5-2, respectively, before Pennsylvania prevailed 12-4 on the third day.

Smith allowed one earned run in two innings in the final game and for the series, batted .400 with three RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

As a junior last spring, Smith started half of Seneca Valley's games at shortstop while pitching a few innings for the Raiders.

Prior to the second game, all players took part in a talent showcase, where college scouts were watching.

“Right now, my ultimate goal is to play in college at either the high Division II level or low Division I,” said Smith, who will now focus on fall baseball for the West Hills Show, one of Pittsburgh's elite travel teams.