Karlie Gutierrez has used April to help propel the Bobcat offense, as the team pushes towards a top-three finish in the Peach Belt Conference. Gutierrez brought home the honors of Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week for the week of April 5.
Gutierrez, the junior catcher from Newnan, Georgia, not only excelled during the week she claimed the Player of the Week award, but has also used the last few weeks to help rewrite her entire season at the plate.
Ending March, Gutierrez managed only two multi-hit performances, yet in the final game of the month showed signs soon to come for her season at the plate. In a contest against Emmanuel University, Gutierrez collected three hits, scored twice, and drove in two runs. She also walked and stole a base—something fans weren’t used to seeing from the Bobcat backstop in the previous weeks.
“Softball is a game of failure, so I think a lot of the time it has to do with your mind not being right,” Gutierrez said. “Not having your mind right, so really just trying to lock that aspect in the mental side of the game, trying to lock that in, and I have a lot of help, and I’ve really bought into the approach, and it’s just been helping me a lot.”
Those games against Emmanuel counted as the first four of the 11-game winning streak that the Bobcat softball team would venture on, and Gutierrez became a large reason for GCSU’s success.
Gutierrez followed up the multi-hit performance against Emmanuel with three multi-hit games against Flagler College, a series in which she drove in four runs, hit two doubles, and stole a base in each game of the series.
When the week was all said and done, Gutierrez went 10-for-15 for a .667 batting average, alongside an .800 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage.
“Karlie’s put in a lot of work, both on the physical and the mental side of the game,” said Coach Brittany Johnson. “She’s reaping the benefits of sticking to that process. She’s put in a lot of time and effort for it, so that’s why she’s having this type of success.”
In the 10 games since Gutierrez brought home the award, she’s still managed an elite .481 average, scoring eight times and driving in five runs herself. Doubles have been a large part of her game as well, collecting six in those 10 games, and stealing three more bases.
Those eight doubles she’s hit so far in April propelled her all the way to a tie for seventh place in the Peach Belt Conference, with 11.
On top of everything, Gutierrez has started 38 of the 39 games she played in this season and has spent the majority of the time as the Bobcats’ starting catcher, making her responsible for managing the pitching staff. As such, GCSU’s staff is ranked fifth in the conference via earned run average, proving how well Gutierrez can play on both sides of the ball.
“I pride myself as a catcher,” Gutierrez said. “I try to keep my pitchers as calm as possible. It can be mentally straining to keep them calm, keep myself calm and command my defense. It can be a challenge to balance it all, but it’s also one of the most rewarding sports. It allows me to celebrate my pitchers, defense, and offense. I think it’s the joy in everything that keeps me centered in management.”
GCSU plays one final series on the road against Augusta University before a final three-game set against Middle Georgia State University, celebrating senior day in the second game against MGSU. Gutierrez looks to help the Bobcats continue their hot hitting as GCSU seeks to cement a top spot in the Peach Belt Conference.