By Jim Hague
It’s not often that a young woman from rural Connecticut would end up in the hustle and bustle of Newark, N.J.
Well, it happened three years ago, when Rutgers-Newark hired Nutmeg State-native Kristen Hunt to be the new head softball coach.
And it took place again last August, when Jaclyn “Jackie” Arute enrolled at R-N.
Arute admittedly knew nothing about Rutgers-Newark until her travel softball coaches mentioned something to her. The coaches knew about R-N through their association with Hunt, especially through Hunt’s days as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State University.
Hunt coached Arute’s travel softball coach at CCSU.
“I went to go see her play,” Hunt said. “Right away, I was impressed. I was able to create a good relationship with Jackie.”
Arute decided to come to R-N for a visit.
“It was a little bit of a culture shock, especially from where I come from,” Arute said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t think it wasn’t anything I wasn’t ready for, but it was definitely different.”
But the connection between coach and player became the selling point for the player from Connecticut with the coach from Connecticut.
“I could see that she had the same passion and drive for the game that I have,” Arute said. “That’s what I look for in a coach. I wanted someone who had the same passion and drive. I needed that.”
“I think what drove me to her was her intensity,” Hunt said. “I see a lot of myself in her.”
There was another minor obstacle in Arute’s recruitment.
You see, Arute played centerfield for her Berlin High School softball team. Hunt pictured Arute as more of a shortstop with the Scarlet Raiders.
“She told me she was a shortstop for her travel team and that she played a lot of shortstop,” Hunt said.
“I knew the position well,” Arute said. “My high school team needed an outfielder, so that’s where I played. I told Coach (Hunt) that I would play anywhere you need me. I was open to anything she wanted me to do.”
With that, Arute became the Scarlet Raiders’ main shortstop.
“I knew that she would be a positive impact wherever she played right away,” Hunt said.
However, no one could have ever predicted how much of an impact Arute would have.
The rookie is currently the Scarlet Raiders’ leading hitter, batting .526 through the first 13 games with 20 hits, two doubles, a triple and seven RBI.
“I was not expecting to do this well,” Arute said. “I’m just happy with what I’m doing.”
The Scarlet Raiders have exploded out to a 10-3 record, easily their best record at this stage of the season in ages.
Hunt had a feeling that Arute would stand out.
“She’s just a team player, a real go-getter,” Hunt said. “She’s a consistent player. Jackie came here and had a goal to be in the starting lineup. She worked hard. It didn’t matter where she played, as long as she was in the starting lineup. That was the most important factor. I think the reason why she’s been successful is her athleticism. It’s noticeable right away.”
Hunt is also impressed with the way she’s responded to college life and softball.
“She’s very aggressive,” Hunt said. “I think she’s handled it all very well. She’s a freshman and there was some concern, just because of the city aspect of the school. But her athleticism has taken her to a new level. She has an important role with our team. Playing shortstop is demanding and it’s tough. But she’s done a wonderful job.”
Arute hasn’t worried about making mistakes at a relatively new position.
“I think I’ve just always had that mentality,” Arute said. “You’re always going to make mistakes. It’s part of the game. If I dwell on the mistakes, that is going to hurt me later on and hurt the team. I just try to better myself after making a mistake.”
Arute is hoping to carry a double major in business management and marketing. She has no idea what she wants to do later on in life. She has three years to worry about that.
In the meantime, she’s going to continue to enjoy life in Newark with the Scarlet Raiders.
“I definitely made the right choice,” Arute said. “I can’t see myself anywhere else. I’m so glad I talked to Coach Hunt. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve met so many new people in a whole new environment. It was a big difference for me. I love it.”
As for the team’s success?
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of it,” Arute said. “We have a good group of hard working, dedicated girls. We put a lot of time in it. You could tell how much we wanted it. We have such a strong team. We have 11 freshmen and we’re doing well. No one could have dreamed that this would turn out so well. We have such a good team. It’s all just amazing.”
Just like the team’s amazing new shortstop.
“We all appreciate her so much,” Hunt said. “I think she has so much potential. It’s so exciting watching her play. She’s such a coachable kid, a quiet, great teammate.”
Not to mention one that leads the team in hitting.
