HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Brian Smith got married Friday in Gatlinburg, Tenn., but may have been the least nervous groom in recorded history.

“Nervous?” asked a chuckling Smith. “Naw, what’s to be nervous about?”

Smith’s hands weren’t shaking and knees weren’t quaking during the “Wedding March” , because when you’ve stood on big-league mounds and thrown fastballs within swinging distance of folks like Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou and Jim Edmonds, well, tying the knot is just another day of soft-toss down in the bullpen.

Smith, a right-hander, became the first Rowan native to play in the majors in three decades when he took the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 11 at Three Rivers Stadium.

Smith, who graduated from South Rowan High in 1990, was called up to Pittsburgh just in time for a four-game, three-day series with the Cincinnati Reds. His family and friends were also in the Steel City, eager to witness his debut.

“Those three days against the Reds, I got up seven times in the bullpen,” said Smith.

Seven times, Smith’s family cheered as he heated up. Seven times, Smith sat back down. It had taken him six long years to make the majors after graduating from UNC Wilmington. Now, it looked like it might take longer than that to get in a game.

“I hadn’t even been in there and my arm was feeling fatigued,” said Smith, a right-hander, who had major arm surgery last winter.

Smith’s disappointed family left town when the Reds did.

“My family never saw me pitch,” he said. “I think this year was the first time in my life, they didn’t see me throw. When I was in the minors, I always got close to home.”

Several years ago, Smith came very close to home indeed — to Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium, where he mowed down the Piedmont Boll Weevils. Piedmont manager Roy Majtyka said then that Smith had a chance to make the bigs. Majtyka was proven right, ironically, the night after Smith’s parents left. That’s when his chance came against Central Division kingpin St. Louis.

Smith was up and throwing for the third time — that made 10 times in four days — when the bullpen phone rang. It was for him. Of course, it was the ninth inning. And of course, the bases were loaded. And of course, there were no outs. But the Pirates were down 7-4, so the pressure wasn’t overwhelming.

“The adrenaline was pumping so hard, I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Smith. “I felt great.”

The first batter Smith faced was All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria, who hit a sacrifice fly. Then Mike Matheny got the first major-league hit off Smith. It went 40 feet —a swinging bunt up the third base line. But Smith then came through with his first two big-league strikeouts with whiffs of Eduardo Perez, son of Hall of Famer, Tony, and J.D. Drew.

So far, so good.

The third game of that Cardinal series on Sept. 13 was tougher. Smith came on to start the sixth inning with the Pirates trailing 6-3. He gave up a double to Drew and a one-out RBI single to Edmonds. But then he got Will Clark to ground into a double play. Inning over.

Fernando Tatis started the seventh by fouling off eight pitches. Smith finally walked him, and somewhere in Tatis’ lengthy at-bat, Smith’s head told his arm something was wrong.

“Something was going on in my elbow,” Smith said.

But he sure wasn’t going to ask out. It had taken too long to get here.

Next up was Shawon Dunston, whose been in the big leagues since Smith was at China Grove Middle School. The veteran golfed a down-and-in fastball down the left-field line for a two-run homer.

“It wasn’t that bad a pitch,” said Smith, “but the damage was done pretty quick.”

Smith retired the next three batters to end the inning.

Next came Smith’s first big-league flight to Houston’s spanking new Enron Field, whose cozy dimensions have earned it the nickname “Home Run Field” from disgusted hurlers.

“The second day there I pitched,” said Smith. “The elbow was feeling horrible, but they’d already told me I had the next inning. I said OK.”

Smith entered the game in the sixth with Pittsburgh trailing 8-7. He got two quick outs, but then walked Julio Lugo. Lugo stole second and scored on a bloop hit by Mitch Meluskey. Smith retired former MVP Bagwell on a pop fly to end the inning.

In the seventh, Smith yielded a leadoff double to red-hot Richard Hidalgo, who hit over 40 homers this year.

“I had him 1-and-2,” remembered Smith. “I threw a fastball on the outside corner that should have been strike three. Then a fastball on the inside corner that should have been strike three. I guess it was the new-guy thing. Then I had to groove him one and he doubled off the wall.”

Smith retired the next batter, Alou, but couldn’t continue.

“My elbow was literally stuck in one spot,” said Smith. “It had never done that. My range of motion was zero.”

Smith’s season was history after 4 1/3 innings, six hits, five runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

A couple of things have happened to him since — besides getting married to an Alabama girl. He had surgery on the elbow and the reports are good.

“Just a big spur and some loose bodies in there,” he said. “Dr. Andrews cleaned it out. It’s better than ever. I’ll be throwing in six weeks.”

Smith, 28, says there was a “little ordeal” with the Pirates after the season. The usual numbers games that teams play with their rosters. The Pirates placed him in on waivers briefly.

“They knew no one would grab me,” said Smith. “With my elbow, no way I was gonna pass any team’s physical.”

But like his elbow, Smith’s relationship with the Pirates has been repaired.

“I expect to be in spring training with Pittsburgh,” he said. “If I don’t make the Pirates, I’ll go to Triple A (Nashville) and see what happens. Or maybe I can force them to bring me up.”

That’s exactly what happened this summer. Smith’s 0.99 ERA at Double A Altoona didn’t leave the struggling Pirates much choice but to take a look.

The question now is what the Pirates, who will play in a new ballpark in 2001 and expect a dramatic increase in revenues, will do next.

“They’re gonna spend money on free agents, probably,” said Smith. “It all depends. But looking at what they’ve got now, I believe I’m in their top 10. My goal is to make the bigs this spring. I’m optimistic.”

And Rowan baseball fans are optimistic they’ll have a local guy to root for for the first time since Woodleaf’s Barry Moore hung ‘em up in 1970.

“I hope I can get back up,” said Smith. “Having been there for just a few games makes you want it worse than ever.”