Brittany Schutte taking a ball to the face was like a kick in the gut for the Gators. Or, it was supposed to be.
On March 2 against Gardner-Webb, Schutte was knocked out of the game after being struck in the jaw by an overthrown ball on the basepaths. Just more than a week before she got injured, Schutte earned the honors of Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Week.
Having the UF single-season home run record holder out right before conference play should have crippled Florida. However, junior Kelsey Horton stepped in and stepped up. In the first five games after taking over for Schutte at catcher, Horton went 8-for-14 with four homers and 12 RBI.
“I feel happy that I can be starting back there until we get her back,” Horton said. “I’m not trying to feel like I’m filling in for her or like I’m Brittany Schutte. I’m just being me in a different spot in the lineup.”
Although she is not Schutte, Horton is certainly hitting like her. She leads the team with nine home runs and 29 RBI and she is only behind Michelle Moultrie in slugging percentage. Usually hitting clean-up now, Horton has solidified her spot as the team’s power hitter while Schutte is out.
“I always expect myself to have good solid hits,” Horton said. “If it goes over the fence or it doesn’t, I’m just looking to make sure I hit the ball hard every time.”
Coach Tim Walton was certainly not complaining when he could plug in Horton in place of All-American catcher Schutte.
“I’m really happy for her,” Walton said. “[Horton is] someone who works hard. She led the team in home runs two falls in a row and now leads the team in the spring. We’re happy she’s been able to carry that over into the game.”
But now in the midst of SEC play, the competition stiffens. A series against No. 9 Tennessee last weekend proved tough for Horton and the entire Florida roster. In three games against the Vols, Horton went 0-for-9, dropping her batting average from .407 to .338.
However, Horton’s numbers should improve in a double-header against Chattanooga (14-8) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Rather than facing an All-American in UT pitcher Ellen Renfroe, Horton will face off against either Michelle Fuzzard (5-5, 2.78 ERA) or Taylor Deason (9-3, 2.23 ERA).
Despite a slight slump against the Vols, Horton has never had an issue behind the plate. Sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers said Horton has smoothly transitioned into the catcher position and adjusted well to the Gators’ pitchers.
“I played with Kelsey growing up,” Rogers said. “We were on the same travel-ball team for two years in high school and she caught me those years, so we pretty much know each other. We know the feel and everything. It wasn’t that much of a difference.”
Neither Walton nor anyone on the team has commented on the severity of Schutte’s injury or how long she will be out. Schutte was unavailable for comment as well.
Until Schutte comes back, Horton will continue to catch and, most likely, hit in the four-spot in the lineup.
Sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers (left) said junior catcher Kelsey Horton (right) has adjusted well to playing behind the plate in place of injured starter and clean-up hitter Brittany Schutte.
