Schulenburg’s Kutac Getting More Versatile as SHSU Career Progresses

Kyndal Kutac is ready for softball season.

This fall the Schulenburg High School graduate has been practicing at second base in addition to third base, where she has played for Sam Houston State University since 2019.

“I’m extremely comfortable with her at third base,” Sam Houston State head coach Garrett Valis said. “Second base, she’s done very well. We’ve been cross training our players.”

As a true freshman, Kutac finished with a .953 fielding percentage in 148 chances at third, a tough position for even the experienced. “Getting bunts and having the ball hit to me so quickly,” she said. “It slowly got better. My throw from third base is fairly good, accurate.”

Her transition was helped by her remembering the coaches telling players to field the ball in front of them, not behind them. “She has to play side to side and back and forth,” Valis said. “It’s a great challenge, the amount of coverage.”

For those who bunt, Kutac positions herself two steps in front of third base. “I like to play them in, force them to hit the ball instead of bunt,” she said.

Otherwise, she plays even with the bag. “Kyndal is very good with her feet,” the coach said. “She has a strong enough arm and is able to throw from different arm angles.”

Offensively, Kutac is looking for a better start than she had last year, when she hit .200 in 24 games before the shutdown.

In 55 games her first season, she batted .239 and was second on the team with nine home runs and third with 27 runs batted in. The starter was named to the all-Southland Conference honorable mention team. “My freshman year, I was going to keep it simple,” she said about her hitting approach.

But last year pitchers recognized her weaknesses, forcing her to adjust her stance. “I would tend to lock out my front elbow a lot,” she said, adding that the result would be weak contact.

She spent the fall trying to be patient, wait on the right pitch to accomplish what she needs, and has been happy with her progress. “She gets in with a good approach and commits to it,” Valis said.