Kayla Kowalik steps into the batter’s box, and she’s not sure what to expect. Will the opposing pitcher throw on the corners, hoping to keep the ball out of harm’s way but to do enough to get the benefit of the doubt from the home-plate umpire?

Will the pitcher try to get Kowalik to chase a rise ball or a drop ball? Will the pitcher simply throw a fastball through the heart of the zone and hope that Kowalik can’t catch up to the pitch?

There were so many questions, and for that, Kowalik is thankful. For that, Kowalik is thankful. Because a year ago, the junior catcher on Kentucky’s nationally-ranked softball team had her own inquiry.

What is happening? Do you know if or when we will play again? What does it mean going forward?

A promising season for both herself and team was halted when the NCAA in March 2020 canceled all of its spring sports because of the threat of a global coronavirus pandemic. There would be no national champion, conference titles or even a postseason tournament.

Kowalik had a nation-leading eight triples in only 24 games, and the Wildcats had a 20-4 record.

“Just having that feeling of having a rug pulled out from under your feet was kind of disappointing, and kind of sudden, and it’s kind of one of those endings you weren’t expecting,” said Kowalik, a Schertz John Paul II graduate. “I think carrying (that memory) into this season, not only myself but my teammates, we have taken advantage of every opportunity that we’re given because we kind of know what it feels like to not know if we were going to continue to play, if we would come back in a couple of week, and stuff like that. The indecisive ending to our season last year has kind of helped us to just stay focus, and I’m more appreciative of everything I get to do this year.”

The enjoyment about getting to play a sport that Kowalik loves so dearly is easy to see. She leads the nation in batting average (.526), hits (82), runs (64) and total bases (139), is third in triples (six), 10th in on-base percentage (.569) and 15th in slugging percentage (.891). She also has 12 home runs, nine doubles and 35 RBIs as her team’s leadoff batter. Kowalik didn’t hit a home run during her first two seasons. The 64 runs are a school record.

Kowalik, who had a school-record 23-game hitting streak snapped vs. LSU on Sunday, was announced last week as one of 25 finalists for USA Softball national player of the year.

“I’m very grateful for what this season has brought me,” said Kowalik, who has more walks (16) and nearly as many home runs (12) as she does strikeouts (13). “I have no idea what’s happened, just things are clicking. It’s kind of hard not to look at the stats. They’re up on the scoreboard, they’re being tweeted out. I just kind of stay mentally focused and honed in. I know what the stats are, and I know that they’re there, but come game time that’s not what I’m thinking.”

Kowalik’s motivation is what she and her teammates missed out on a year ago. There was no possible run at the SEC championship, no opportunity to finally get over the hump and advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma, no more playing with the seniors who declined the NCAA’s offer for an additional season because of COVID to either attend graduate school or move on in life.

“It was very rough, very difficult, because a lot of my friends were seniors,” said Kowalik, whose twin sister Gabbie plays at Division I Saint Louis University (Mo.), where earlier this season was named national player of the week and recently she hit for the cycle.

The journey didn’t get easier. Eleven months ago, Kowalik was holed up in her apartment, pondering a lost season and wondering when things would return to normal. A few months earlier, in March 2020, she had returned to Lexington, Ky., after spending a few weeks at home in New Braunfels at the onset of the pandemic.

But with so many unknowns about COVID, which has killed more than 570,000 in the United States, Kowalik needed an escape from a whirlwind that took her from preparing for a series at Mississippi State, to having the Kentucky coaching staff calling a team meeting to tell the players that there would be a two-week pause in the season because of COVID, to eventually learning the season was called off.

Kowalik found the respite when she and a few teammates, while observing protocols and looking to work on conditioning, went on mile-and-a-half-long runs. On other occasions, she found solace by simply driving around campus.

Whether it was running or behind the wheel, Kowalik’s path always seemed to end up at the same location — the parking lot of John Cropp Stadium, the Wildcats’ softball facility.

“It’s not actually all that embarrassing,” Kowalik said of sitting alone in her automobile in an empty parking lot.

The quiet moments instead helped Kowalik gain a greater appreciation for things, big and small. They also laid a foundation for a season that has seen the 21-year-old become one of the nation’s top all-around players.

Kowalik, who helped guide Schertz John Paul II to three TAPPS state titles and one runner-up finish, can hit for average and power, is a strong fielder and thrower, and among the fastest players on her team. She has 18 steals in 19 attempts, and early this year started in the outfield before moving solely to catcher for the Wildcats (32-12), ranked No. 14 in the nation.

“She’s very confident in her abilities,” Kentucky senior infielder Mallory Peyton said of Kowalik during the team’s media day. “You can tell when she steps up to the plate, steps up in the on-deck circle, she is going to go to town on you. There’s no holding back for Kayla. She’s going to be ruthless, but then she’s going to be your friend after the game. She’s definitely someone that you want at the top of your lineup, and someone you want to be in the batter’s box.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1