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Kyla Schulte has developed at the plate for CCA softball

VaselineJuly 8, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Kyla Schulte has developed at the plate for CCA softball

Without discipline at the plate, it’s hard to get going in softball.

Pitch recognition, patience and zone awareness are qualities elite hitters must possess every time they step into the box. For right-handed bat Kyla Schulte, those are skills she wanted to strengthen as she entered her sophomore season for Clear Creek Amana softball.

Schulte did everything a freshman could have wanted last season, leading the team in hits (41), runs (26) and homers (eight) with nine wins as a pitcher. Schulte emerged as a dual-threat competitor for the Clippers.

But when she looked back on her breakthrough season, there was one category that struck a chord with her.

“I think I missed so many shots last year because I saw so many and I didn’t find the pitch I wanted right away,” Schulte said. “That was something I had as a goal. I really wanted to limit what I had on those balls because I really wasn’t happy with what I had last year.”

After being struck out 16 times as a freshman, it was time for a change and Schulte went straight to the lab. For Schulte, the offseason grind was about staying disciplined against pitches outside the zone.

With the help of her coaches and parents, including her mother who was a softball player in college, Schulte invested more time in improving her playing technique, and it shows.

The left fielder has been more selective with her swing this season, limiting her strikeout total to seven as the Clippers (23-12) look to record their fifth consecutive winning season. Schulte has started 33 games for the Clippers, hitting .439/.484/.684 with 50 hits and 29 runs, all improvements from last season. She also has two wins as a starting pitcher.

There is one stat that stands out in the stat sheet. Her RBI total (56) has skyrocketed from her 24 RBIs last season.

“Her change from last year to this year is she’s more confident. She’s put a lot more effort into it than she did the year before,” CCA coach Jodie Scheetz said. “Just trusting herself and getting the job done definitely helps her, and she’s been pretty solid for us so far.”

Sophomore Lizzie Pasbrig, who has known Schulte since elementary school, has had a front-row seat to her softball adventure. Ever since junior softball, Pasbrig has known that Schulte’s strength, a trait that has been transferred to CCA, has been transferred.

According to Pasbrig, Schulte can best be described as a hard-working hitter full of strength and self-confidence.

“Her hitting has always been amazing, even from a young age,” Pasbrig said. “I believe in her 100 percent and I know she doesn’t buckle under pressure. She’s definitely got a lot of confidence in herself and she should be, she’s a great hitter.”

Having a leader who is not only reliable but also dedicated to the game is invaluable, especially for a CCA softball program full of sophomores looking to make it to the state tournament for the first time since 2021.

Team chemistry is what makes teams thrive and Schulte’s confidence and support at bat have contributed to that. Known for her leadership, Schulte has built a reputation for lifting her teammates up.

The road to state begins this week with the start of regional play, and the Clippers are looking to step up to the plate. Schulte knows there’s room for improvement, but believes CCA softball can reach new heights this postseason.

“Our coaches think we have a really good chance this year, we just have to make sure we string our hits together because we’re struggling with that right now,” Schulte said. “But everybody’s going to hit when they have to, and we’re going to get (them) … to win games because we have a really good chance this year.”

For Schulte it was a second season full of discipline at bat, a trend she wants to strengthen in the final phase of the season.

“Now I know what pitches I want to hit; I hit the ones I want to hit and I make sure I’m not just swinging for the strike,” Schulte said. “I’ve learned to hit it a lot better now, so I think I’m more successful because of it.”

Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected]and on X, formerly Twitter, on @themarcszn.

VaselineJuly 8, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Vaseline

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