Today’s spotlight is a California girl who, despite being just miles from the beach, fell in love with the small-time atmosphere of a Big 12 school…

Name: KAYLA KMETT
Grad Year: 2017
Pos: pitcher/first base
High School: J Serra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
GPA: 3.9
Club: Explosion – Greg
High School Stats: Batting .393 as a sophomore after hitting .386 as a freshman
Height: 5-foot-9
College: Oklahoma State

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FullCountSoftball.com: Your commitment to Oklahoma State was a week ago… Tell us how and when you told the coaches you were committing?
Kayla Kmett: Last Friday, April 24, I had a high school game against our “cross-town rivals” Santa Margarita. Going into the game I had already known for about six days that I wanted to go to Oklahoma State and that I had made my decision. I didn’t know when I was going to call the coaches because that part made me nervous but I knew that I wanted to commit there. So after our game was over I went home and made the call.

FCS.com: How did the coaches first hear about you?
KK: Last summer during PGF, one of the coaches saw me at a Blanco Prospect Camp. Then the pitching coach camp to watch me in October and Head Coach Rich (Wieligman) came to watch me in November and then they invited me to visit the school and attend their camp in January. While at the camp I met Vanessa Shippy and Tiffany Mikkelson from Aliso Viejo.

FCS.com: What were final deciding factors that led you to pick Oklahoma State and why did you commit now?
KK: When I started researching colleges to figure out what schools had the best program I want to major in—film and television production—I researched the top film schools that had D1 softball. OSU has a multimedia and sports media program that interested me. During my visit I knew right away that I could see myself going there. I love the campus and the small town where everyone was wearing OSU gear. I absolutely love the coaching staff; they made me feel right at home. They made me a great offer and I saw no reason to wait.

FCS.com: Did you visit other schools and what was your impression or thoughts about the recruiting process overall?
KK: I’ve been visiting schools for a few years and I visited six schools last year. The other schools impressed me but OSU really stood out. The recruiting process may be long and stressful but I knew that eventually I was going to land where I needed to be. My coaches, especially Explosion Coach Greg (Borzilleri), really provided a lot of information and leadership to make the process easier and he really works hard for all of us.

FCS.com: What was it about Stillwater that really impressed you?
KK: I really loved that the campus is in a small town. I am not a big city type of girl and have always loved the small town idea. I visited during the winter, although there was no snow and the grass was mostly dead it was beautiful even in the dead of winter. While everyone was there they all made comments about having to go to Eskimo Joes, which has the towns best chili fries.

FCS.com: Let’s talk about your pitching background—you started very young but said you almost quit or at least got frustrated when about 7…
KK: I started taking lessons at age 7 and it was really frustrating at first. But my pitching coach had a lot of patience and encouraged me to practice, practice, practice. I’ve been going to the same pitching coach now for nine years and although it has been a lot of hard work it has certainly paid off.

FCS.com: What pitches do you throw and what is your favorite pitch when you need to get that final strike or out?
KK: I love to keep batters off balance and my favorite pitches are my drop-curve and my changeup. I am always confident in my changeup and will even throw it when the bases are loaded and there is a full count.

FCS.com: You have a batting cage in your backyard, which is pretty cool! How often do you go work out in it and is it for pitching, hitting or both when you go there?
KK: I pitch in my batting cage often, it is extremely convenient for me to finish doing my homework and just go out back to work out. I use it for both hitting and pitching. I am currently doing a work out to help build more speed and I do it three times a week in the cage.

FCS.com: What did OSU say they liked about you or what do you think you do well that got you the offer?
KK: Coach (Tracie) Adix-zins said that she really liked my drop ball/drop-curve because she was a drop ball pitcher. I think that I do a good job at moving the ball around and keeping the batters off balance. They told me they want a drop ball pitcher coming in my class and they felt that I would fit that role nicely.

FCS.com: What’s been the highlight of your athletic career so far?
KK: Probably my first year of travel ball when I was 10 years old, I played for the California Desperados and during that year we won the Triple Crown World Series and ASA Western Nationals.

 

Quick Hitters:

 

If you had to pick one athlete that’s your hero or role model, who would it be?
Amanda Freed because she is so confident and I’ve always wanted to be as good as she is.

Fill in the blank… When I walk on the field for a game, I’m thinking:_________________
… Today’s the day you shouldn’t have come because we’re going to kick your butt.

Last vacation you took:
My family went to Yosemite to camp and hike to the waterfalls in the snow over Spring Break.

Favorite motto or philosophy of life:
“God is within her, she will not fall.” (Psalm 46:5) or “Champions are born on invisible nights.”

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I hate to be late for anything.

What’s the one thing/object, besides your phone, that you can’t live without?
I could live without a phone I’m hardly ever on it but I could not live without Iced Tea; I need an Arizona Iced Tea everyday!

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
Just like in the movie “A League of their Own” every time I pass a cemetery I have to cross my fingers because I believe that if I don’t I will never get another hit ever again.

What’s going to be your next purchase (clothing, electronics, softball equipment, etc.)?
New turf shoes for pitching lessons.

What’s your “guilty pleasure,” something you hate to admit you love?
I love jelly bellies… every Easter my mom has to hide the candy because she knows I’ll eat them all.

If you could have a super power, what would you want it to be?
Teleportation, because then if I forgot something I could just teleport home and back.

Favorite ice cream flavor and topping:
Frozen Yogurt is way better and anything fruity.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Walt Disney because he was a brilliant man that created so many lovable characters and films.

What did you want to be when you were little?
I wanted to be a photographer because I wanted to capture the world.

Nickname(s):
“Peanut,” but only my parents call me that.

Something on your “must do” list:
It would be really cool to complete an eight-second ride on a bull.

If you have a guest come to your home in San Clemente, Calif., what do you do to entertain him or her (where do you take them or show them)?
I usually take them to the San Clemente Pier or to hike because I love where I live it is so beautiful.