An interview with 4TheFallen/Miken/EVO9x’s Jim Kulovitz

Jim Kulovitz

USSSA Playing History

Who are you playing with in 2014?
4TheFallen/Miken/EVO9x

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
OF/3B/1B- OF primarily

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Based off guys I have seen consistently play here are my two favorite.
A.J. Montano-  He's one of the best all around players I have had the chance to play with and the best teammate.  The guy lost his eye in an accident as a child is one of the best players in the game.  I'm not sure how he hasn't been featured on ESPN yet.
Julio Salazar-  He is as clutch as they come.  Full count got to be?  Double down the line.

Why do you like the game of softball?
I love to compete and make new friends.  

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
local guys- Mike Brambilla (best raw power), Jeff Flood (Underrated), Dale Brungardt, Nick Sansone, Isaac Gonzalez, Josh Carter, Matt Fox, Eli Aguilar, Steven Lopez, DJ Hollingsworth, Chente Granados, Rego Nieto (Best 3B glove in the game) I know I am forgetting someone.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
Jimmy, Jimbo, Goldfish- I was a Rescue Swimmer in the Navy, Son (I referred to arguably the best all Navy softball player ever Jerry Wieland as son at a tryout.)

What is your height and weight?
6'1 230

Where do you call home?
Lakeside, California.  

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Relax hit batting practice, Catch a Padres game.

What do you do for a living?
Last month I transitioned from the Navy and opened a Mobile detailing business BridgeMark Auto.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
I played Baseball in college.  Football, Wrestling, and Golf in high school.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
Chris Chaney put in a good word for me with Henri Nuber and asked me to play with Swats last year.  

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
To someone unfamiliar with upper teams they may watch somebody hit a 4 hopper through a hole in the infield and think they miss hit it but in reality thats the hole they were swinging for.
The skill level of the pitchers can't accurately be described or appreciated until you have experienced it.
 

Is there a player that you would compare your game to?
Eli Aguilar he hits both sides of the field with good power.  I am not there yet but I try to emulate his approach.

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?
Representing the military Hitting with Denny Crine and Kid Vega at Petco park.  Watching Denny go up there and hit his first ball to the moon and watching the crowd go nuts is something I will never forget.

In your career was there a single person (player/manager/coach) who had the most significant impact on your approach to the game? Why?
Jason Kreider- After I hit a couple solos last year in Vegas he made me hit nothing but 1-4 1-6 every batting practice we took.  It was painful but it paid off.

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
Practice Practice Practice.  I can always tell when local guys have been practicing and start surpassing other players.  Pick the brain of veterans and always stay humble because you are an ambassador of the game we all love.  Respect yours sponsors because they love the game so much they will pay for you to play it.

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
I swing a 26 oz.  Drop my pinky and overlap

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
I hit 4-5 days a week and use Mike Macenkos lifting program (from his website).

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
I grew up a Cubs fan but have grown fond of the Padres.  I'm a big fan of MMA

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
I do not

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
It was Culo by Pitbull in high school and college.  Julio and Stuey informed me what that meant.

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
Promoting softball for the skills involved would help.  Its hard for normal people to understand how difficult it can be to hit an Andy Purcell or Geno Buck knuckleball, the purpose of juking, how difficult defense in softball is with crazy speeds through the infield on dirt not grass.  

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
1. Wegmans tournament in Cincy was a great atmosphere,
2. Toys4tots by Rulli is the best offseason
3. Boneyard Blast in Reno is the best place to go have fun with friends and play."

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
The Dual-  Nothing beats hitting in a stadium
Santee Sportsplex-  My league night fields are all turf and very nice.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Wherever Kreider decides we are going.

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
In a local Coed Tournament Eli was up to bat and a Steve Urkle looking pitcher struck him out on a pitch that landed right down the middle.  Eli looks at the umpire and shot put his bat midway into left field.  The best part was the umpire just looked at him like uh thats your warning.  Luckily I was watching from the stands and got to witness it and we laugh about it now.  Needless to say he walked every at bat after that.

What is your email address?  (will only appear on page if you are a free agent)
jekulov@gmail.com

Tell us something about you that most would never know about you?
I was the guy who would post on the message boards asking for a chance to get picked up a couple years back I didn't even understand what the conference was yet.  I even emailed 4tf and Jaimie Fregozo.  Jaimie politely facebook messaged me back that I wasn't quite ready.  19 months later he sent me a facebook message welcoming me to 4tf and our old conversation popped up right above it.  And Jaimie was absolutely correct I was not ready at the time.

What was your favorite sports related gift you have ever given or received?
My first tournament ever I was playing against Jerry Wieland I hit a homerun with a "Dirty" bat before I knew what that meant.  He came over and explained his stance on cheating in softball and gave me a 2008ish red Brett Helmer synergy plus power.  That conversation had a lot of influence on me.