PCM’s Schutte chooses Simpson

PCM senior Hailey Schutte hopes to have one more opportunity with her teammates on the softball diamond this summer.

But a breakout junior season has allowed her career to extend to the collegiate ranks as she will play softball for Simpson College starting in the fall.

“Choosing which college to go to is never an easy decision, and it takes a lot of thought and maybe a lot of stress too,” Schutte said. “I choose Simpson because of the small campus, tight-knit community, its close location to Des Moines and it wasn’t too far from home.”

Schutte started 16 games as a sophomore at PCM but only got 31 at-bats. She scored six runs, drove in two runs, walked twice and stole two bases. Her fielding percentage was .895.

As a junior, she started all 25 games at third base and got 84 at-bats. That season, she batted .274 with 23 hits, 16 runs, three doubles, four RBIs, three walks and six steals. Her fielding percentage was .742.

PCM softball coach Shaun Hudnut coached Schutte last season. And his coaching staff made a few tweaks to her swing that seemed to help her improve at the plate.

“We saw potential in her,” Hudnut said. “The staff tried to fine tune some things, but the credit goes her. She’s from Monroe so I didn’t teach her. The only thing she knew about me was that I was Belle’s Dad. But she was receptive to some of the changes and it paid off.”

Hudnut plans to move Schutte to shortstop this summer, if the softball season happens. Schutte doesn’t know where she will play at Simpson.

“Simpson didn’t recruit me to play a specific position, but just to be a part of the team,” Schutte said.

“I’m willing to play wherever the coach will play me even if that means playing a position that I’m unfamiliar with. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Simpson softball family.”

Schutte considered attending Northern Iowa as just a student. Her final two schools for softball came down to Simpson and Central.

“In January, a teammate and I went to Simpson’s softball camp together and I got to meet the coaches and team,” Schutte said.

“I immediately felt at home and knew that Simpson was a place where I would excel as both a person and a softball player,” Schutte said. “I felt like I was at home and a part of the Simpson community as soon as I stepped onto the campus.”

Coming from PCM and a mid-sized school, Schutte values the close relationships with classmates and teachers that she built over the past four years. That’s why Simpson also was a good fit for her.

“I’m excited she’s going to give it a go,” Hudnut said. “I think there’s still room for her to grow. She’s our only senior right now and is a positive role model for our young team. Simpson is getting someone who works hard and has a good attitude. She’s athletic and fast. I hope she continues to get better like she did with us last summer.”

Schutte also reached out to PCM volunteer softball coach and former Simpson player Abby Waddell for assistance. She wanted to make sure she could play softball and not have it affect her academics.

“Before the winter workouts for this season had to be canceled due to the virus, I spent a lot of time talking to Coach Abby Waddell about her experience when playing for Coach Matthias at Simpson,” Schutte said. “Coach Waddell expressed how much she enjoyed being on the team, how great the coaches are and how fun the softball atmosphere is. This pushed me to become even more interested in playing for Simpson.”

Schutte plans to major in accounting with the hopes of getting her CPA license.