Player Spotlight: Big 12-bound Kaylee Hewitt
Player Spotlight: Big 12-bound Kaylee Hewitt
Out of Carlsbad, New Mexico comes Kaylee Hewitt, a talented 2019 pitcher/first baseman who plays for the Wichita Mustangs and recently committed to Texas Tech.
Out of Carlsbad, New Mexico comes Kaylee Hewitt, a talented 2019 pitcher/first baseman who’s early in her freshmen year of high school, but knows already where she’ll play college.
Her commitment story is pretty special and in today’s Q&A with Kaylee you’ll learn how the Wichita Mustangs pitcher felt the presence of her grandfather when she visited her future Big 12 school and how that impacted her decision….
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How is high school treating you so far?
High School is treating me well so far, it is certainly a big change from Middle School. I'm looking forward to the remainder of my high school years.
You're with the Wichita Mustangs...there have been a lot of talk the organization has, or was, shutting down. Can you tell us how the Mustangs are preceding?
The organization is not shutting down, but there have been changes within the coaching staff. Coach Jeff Cottril is now at Oklahoma State, and Coach Mark Griggs will continue to be involved, but he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and watching Emily – his daughter – play at LSU. Currently it looks like I will be playing with the 18U Mustangs Gold, and I am looking forward to the challenge and competing at that level.
You recently committed to Texas Tech… tell us the story of your commit to the Red Raiders?
I committed to Texas Tech on September 19th, while on an unofficial visit there. It's a bit of a story, but here goes.
My grandfather passed away October 18th, 2009, and the hospital that he was last treated in shares the parking lot with Texas Tech Softball. When we arrived on Friday the 18th, I asked my dad "Isn't this where granddad was?" The relevance of this is that when he was in the hospital, my family and I stayed many days in our camper just north of the Red Raider softball field.
When we were walking into the facility, my dad found a penny on the ground right in front of the entrance, which in our family signifies that my granddad was there with us. To understand my granddad, he never walked passed a penny, he always picked them up and put them in his front left pocket.
The remainder of the visit was fun, and when at the football game I started to realize that I could see myself at this school. Coach Gregory, Coach Locke, and Coach Mack were all very family oriented and I really appreciated that. Following the football game, my parents and I met with Coach G, and she made it very clear that they wanted me to be a Red Raider. My parents and I then thanked her for everything and told them we would be in touch.
We started to head home and my dad asked me what my thoughts were, and I didn't know what to say. My dad asked me again what my thoughts were, and I didn't know what to say, because I felt that was where I was meant to be.
We sat down to eat before we left, and my mom was asking me 900 questions about why I felt that way, and it all came back to the feeling I had that my granddad was there with us. I am the second oldest of six kids, and my family is very close and that came directly from him.
I contacted Coach G and Coach Locke shortly after dinner, and I asked if I could meet them back at the facility. When we got there, I told them that I wanted to be a Red Raider!!!
Why did you commit now as opposed to waiting until after the fall season or beyond?
I committed now because I felt like this was a great fit for me and my family. It's important for me that my family has the opportunity to see me play and continue my education, but it just felt like the right fit for me from the moment I got there.
Was there a moment in your career when you thought "I'm pretty good and can play at the college level?”
When I played my first event with the Mustangs in the fall of 2014 in Huntington Beach, Coach White at Oregon was the one who asked to see me in that event. Prior to that event, I had gone out to their elite camp, and I kinda figured out that there was a reason he wanted to see me again. That was a very humbling experience.
Give us a scouting report of what you throw, what your strengths are, and what's your out pitch?
I throw a drop ball, change up, riseball, and a cutter. I feel my strengths are changing speeds and my competitiveness, but I also feel like I'm still a work in progress...to be continued! As far as an out pitch, I want to be able to say that about every pitch I have, but for the time being I prefer the drop ball or change up regardless of the count.
What's something about you off the field that people don't generally know?
I love to make people laugh with my animal noises!
What's your philosophy or approach to life?
Be different!
Having gone through the recruiting process what advice would you give to younger players coming up?
I'd say to enjoy every part of it, to be yourself and to enjoy the building of relationships throughout the process.
Finally, what is your favorite part of being a softball player?
As a pitcher, I like being a softball player because I love to compete and I like the feeling I get when I'm on the mound leading my team.
Her commitment story is pretty special and in today’s Q&A with Kaylee you’ll learn how the Wichita Mustangs pitcher felt the presence of her grandfather when she visited her future Big 12 school and how that impacted her decision….
***
How is high school treating you so far?
High School is treating me well so far, it is certainly a big change from Middle School. I'm looking forward to the remainder of my high school years.
You're with the Wichita Mustangs...there have been a lot of talk the organization has, or was, shutting down. Can you tell us how the Mustangs are preceding?
The organization is not shutting down, but there have been changes within the coaching staff. Coach Jeff Cottril is now at Oklahoma State, and Coach Mark Griggs will continue to be involved, but he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and watching Emily – his daughter – play at LSU. Currently it looks like I will be playing with the 18U Mustangs Gold, and I am looking forward to the challenge and competing at that level.
You recently committed to Texas Tech… tell us the story of your commit to the Red Raiders?
I committed to Texas Tech on September 19th, while on an unofficial visit there. It's a bit of a story, but here goes.
My grandfather passed away October 18th, 2009, and the hospital that he was last treated in shares the parking lot with Texas Tech Softball. When we arrived on Friday the 18th, I asked my dad "Isn't this where granddad was?" The relevance of this is that when he was in the hospital, my family and I stayed many days in our camper just north of the Red Raider softball field.
When we were walking into the facility, my dad found a penny on the ground right in front of the entrance, which in our family signifies that my granddad was there with us. To understand my granddad, he never walked passed a penny, he always picked them up and put them in his front left pocket.
The remainder of the visit was fun, and when at the football game I started to realize that I could see myself at this school. Coach Gregory, Coach Locke, and Coach Mack were all very family oriented and I really appreciated that. Following the football game, my parents and I met with Coach G, and she made it very clear that they wanted me to be a Red Raider. My parents and I then thanked her for everything and told them we would be in touch.
We started to head home and my dad asked me what my thoughts were, and I didn't know what to say. My dad asked me again what my thoughts were, and I didn't know what to say, because I felt that was where I was meant to be.
We sat down to eat before we left, and my mom was asking me 900 questions about why I felt that way, and it all came back to the feeling I had that my granddad was there with us. I am the second oldest of six kids, and my family is very close and that came directly from him.
I contacted Coach G and Coach Locke shortly after dinner, and I asked if I could meet them back at the facility. When we got there, I told them that I wanted to be a Red Raider!!!
Why did you commit now as opposed to waiting until after the fall season or beyond?
I committed now because I felt like this was a great fit for me and my family. It's important for me that my family has the opportunity to see me play and continue my education, but it just felt like the right fit for me from the moment I got there.
Was there a moment in your career when you thought "I'm pretty good and can play at the college level?”
When I played my first event with the Mustangs in the fall of 2014 in Huntington Beach, Coach White at Oregon was the one who asked to see me in that event. Prior to that event, I had gone out to their elite camp, and I kinda figured out that there was a reason he wanted to see me again. That was a very humbling experience.
Give us a scouting report of what you throw, what your strengths are, and what's your out pitch?
I throw a drop ball, change up, riseball, and a cutter. I feel my strengths are changing speeds and my competitiveness, but I also feel like I'm still a work in progress...to be continued! As far as an out pitch, I want to be able to say that about every pitch I have, but for the time being I prefer the drop ball or change up regardless of the count.
What's something about you off the field that people don't generally know?
I love to make people laugh with my animal noises!
What's your philosophy or approach to life?
Be different!
Having gone through the recruiting process what advice would you give to younger players coming up?
I'd say to enjoy every part of it, to be yourself and to enjoy the building of relationships throughout the process.
Finally, what is your favorite part of being a softball player?
As a pitcher, I like being a softball player because I love to compete and I like the feeling I get when I'm on the mound leading my team.