Kuster Kinlecheenie (Navajo): Tribal Core Values Lead NCAA DI Pitcher at the University of Montevallo

By Dan Ninham

Kuster Kinlecheenie is 21 years old and is from the Navajo Nation. Kuster plays baseball at the University of Montevallo, and previously played at Phoenix College. His position is the closer/relief pitcher and he played 51.2 career innings with 55 career K’s (strike outs), 5 wins, and 4 career saves.

“The meaning of my last name Kinlecheenie, means Redhouse in Navajo,” said Kuster. “My parent’s are Orlinda and Paul Kinlecheenie and we’re from Winslow, Arizona.” 

“My tribal core values are self-belief, dedication, passion and desire,” said Kuster. “Self-belief means believing that I am going to make something of myself no matter what is thrown my way and in baseball it means that I have trust in everything I have done in practice and weightlifting that I will be successful.”

“Dedication has defined me as a student-athlete in that I am putting in extra work to be the best I can possibly be,” said Kuster. “Passion has helped because I care deeply about school and baseball because it has gotten me to this point in my life and has continued to influence a better future. Desire: Since I was younger, I always wanted to be a college baseball player and since I have done that, I have the desire to be the best possibly baseball player and student I can be. I have always had the desire to better my future and have used being a student-athlete to make that possible.”

“Nate Velez basically started everything for me,” said Kuster. “He started a travel baseball team comprised of kids in Winslow when I was about 12 or 13 years old. He wanted me on the team, and this allowed me to compete against better competition at the statewide and nationwide levels’ as I got older. Nate showed me a way to get out of the town I am in and make something of myself and how to use baseball as a guide to get through college and be debt free. He taught me to take things personal, and at the time I was 13 or 14 years old and didn’t understand what that meant but now I do now and have taken it in my own way that refuse to let someone beat me and that this is my life and I shouldn’t allow myself to get beaten because competing during baseball will help me compete in all other areas of my life.”

“I began watching ‘Kutter’ pitch at age 10 in Winslow, AZ,” said Nate Velez. “He was like watching a young professional little man. His mechanics and stealthy confidence were so amazing to watch. Being from a community of 3A North basketball and having played both collegiately and in professional scouting leagues watching a young Navajo baseball player with Kutter’s blessings and passion for the game we’re rare to find.”

“At 11 years old I recruited Kutter to be on my Northern AZ Regional Baseball team ‘Team Dawgs’,” said Nate. “This was the beginning our journey and relationship.”

“Kutter became a son to me who I fell in love with as a person and athlete,” said Nate. 

“Over the period of 5-7 years he became the cornerstone of our National World Series and State champion team and being our Ace,” said Nate.

“Along the way, Kutter faced the adversity of losing his young brother Kyler to a tragic car accident,” said Nate. “There was a moment in time he questioned baseball. After reconnecting spiritually and emotionally with his brother we dedicated our last year to Kyler and Kutter had the season of his life. He led the conference and state as one of the best pitchers in all statewide divisions.”

“We sent Kutter to Northeastern Junior College for his first two years,” said Nate. “I think this was a very instrumental part of his development both as a individual away from his community and his family. This was a chance to reflect on his academics, and love for the game and passion.”

“Kutter earned his way two years later on a full ride to The University of Montvello. He will be finishing his final year,” added Nate.

“My 11-year relationship with Kutter extends beyond baseball,” said Nate. “He is a part of my family and I a part of his. He is a son to me and his influence in my life has changed me. I have never met a young man so loyal, dedicated to his family, fierce in his commitment, and takes the mound with quiet dominance.”

“While at Winslow High School I was a four-year letterman on the varsity baseball team,” said Kuster. “During that time, Coach Art Griffith would put me up against the toughest teams and games that were of higher pressure. Coach Griffith influenced me in a way that during practice and sometimes after games, he would always talk about certain players that he has coached and how they did things right. For me, I always wanted to be one of those players that he talked about to players that would come after me. I wanted to be that player that rose to the big situations, competed no matter what the scoreboard was.” 

“Kuster played four years on the varsity baseball team in Winslow and was a starting pitcher all four years,” said Art Griffith, head baseball coach at Winslow HS, AZ. “He is a very intelligent young man who has set his goals very high over the years. He was All Region three years and All State two years but more importantly he was a terrific teammate and highly respected by his peers, coaches, and teachers.”

“Kuster exemplified our team motto: ‘Attitude is Everything’ for his whole career,” said Art. “He was always willing to do anything to help the team and his leadership was evident as he was voted team captain his junior and senior year.”

“Kuster is one of the finest young men that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 51 years as the Head Coach of the Bulldogs,” said Art. “Young student/athletes like Kuster have kept me coaching for many years for he represents the best in what our school has to offer.”

“Coach Chandler Rose is my current baseball coach at University of Montevallo,” said Kuster. “During the recruiting process, Coach Rose took a bet on me. He had never seen me play in person just off of a video. He opened a door that was not there after junior college. I was planning to take a couple classes to avoid taking loans out for school. But Coach Rose exceeded the needs in order for me not to do that. I could not thank him enough for that and because of that he has influenced me to compete even more not than just on the field and in all areas of my life. He has also shown me that baseball in more than just a game. Coach Rose has given me the opportunity to create relationships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

“Kuster is a phenomenal young man that has the utmost respect from everyone in our program,” said Chandler Rose, head baseball coach at University of Montevallo. “I’m so thankful he chose Montevallo two years ago coming out of Phoenix College. He was a JUCO transfer we recruited in summer 2018.”

“His work ethic and passion has spread through our program. He’s become a great leader and example for guys in our program. He gets it done in the classroom, off the field and on the field. He’s everything you could ever want from a student-athlete,” added Chandler. 

“Since arriving here he’s really grown and formed relationships that will last forever,” said Chandler. “I know coming across the country wasn’t easy but we’re thankful he trusted us. I know our entire coaching staff would agree that being around him everyday makes you a better person.” 

“Everything happens for a reason and I’m glad for everyone in our program that we get another year with him. Most importantly he will he finishing his degree this year and has been fantastic in the classroom while here. I can’t say enough great things about Kuster and how much we love him,” added Chandler. 

“Coach Ben Jackson is my current pitching coach at University of Montevallo,” said Kuster. “Coach Jackson is my pitching coach, so he sees everything I go through on a daily basis during practice. He sees when I struggle and when I am thriving. Coach Jackson has given me tools that increased my game, but the best part is what he has done about the mindset part of the game. He has a saying, ‘chase the feeling’, and that feeling could be from anything. It could be in school or a baseball game, and what it means is that what you are going to remember most is the feeling of enjoyment around the ones you love.”

“Kuster came to us via a junior college from Arizona,” said Ben Jackson, pitching coach at the University of Montevallo. “He trusted us in the recruiting process to come all the way across the country to the middle of Alabama. When Kuster showed up he was very quiet but has since then opened up tremendously in his past two years with us. The biggest thing about ‘Kus’ is he always has a smile on his face and he is one of the hardest workers we have and he is the hardest on himself.”

“Kuster keeps himself to a very high standard and he is a perfectionist whether it is about the weight room, academics, or field work, and is always working on his craft of pitching. It has been very special to watch a kid from Arizona come to our school and build some very strong relationships that will carry with him for the rest of his life. He will graduate with a degree and leave a mark on our program and our pitching staff that has set the bar high due to his daily diligence and commitment to working hard and getting better each and everyday,” added Ben. 

“I hardly remember throwing pitches out on the mound, but what I remember most is the feeling of coming off that mound after getting a big out and I have the whole dugout and team yelling and being excited. For that, when I step on the field I go out there to be that guy to get the big out or shut down inning and if I am not the one then I am going to be just as excited for guy that is out there than he would be for me,” added Kuster.

“My older brother Efran is eight years older than me so growing up he always beat me at everything,” said Kuster. “I hated it but he always told me to compete and if something was not good enough I had to repeat it. To compete was that you are going to do everything you can to not let that other guy win and sometimes you don’t always win but that does not mean you stop competing. He also was the first one to introduce me to pitching so that is special and without that, who knows what different path I may have taken but I am glad he did.”

“Kuster is a continuation of both our dreams,” said Efran Kinlecheenie. “When we were younger I instilled a lot of the qualities and the integrity of what it takes to be a leader. He definitely stepped up to the plate. When we were younger we played catch a lot and I would catch the ball barehanded and tell him you’re not throwing hard at all. It’s funny because we always refer to that all the time. Now he’s busting everyone’s gloves and no one wants to throw with him.”

“That’s just the integrity he has to prove to everyone and me wrong. He’s determined to do it too. I’ve enjoyed watching him progress. He faced adversity I didn’t face when I was young. My parents were together when I was young and they split when I graduated. So he had to deal with all of that at a young age. Then our baby brother passed away and things got tougher. I applaud him for his leadership. He was there for my mom, our sisters and our other little brother. He had every excuse to quit or give up but he didn’t,” added Efran.

“I lost my little brother Kyler a couple of years ago due to a car accident,” said Kuster. “He loved baseball more than I did and loved watching me play more than anything. For that, in everything I do, I do it for him, especially in baseball because he loved it so much at such a young age.”

“My mom Orlinda supports me more than anyone,” said Kuster. “Without her help I would have not been able to make it through school and have the opportunity to play baseball. She is a nurse, and works 12-hour shifts for numerous days out of the week to get me through school. She is the one who shows me what it really means to work hard, and I strive to work as hard as her whether it is in school or baseball. She has told me before, ‘don’t forget where you came from’. I didn’t understand what she meant when she first said that but now I do. To me, it means that don’t forget how things used to be for you and use that as motivation because I represent my family and where we come from and who I am as a person and athlete.”

Mom Orlinda Kinlecheenie talked about her son the college baseball player: “Kuster is a very good son. He makes me proud to be his mama. He has learned to be disciplined in everything he does both on and off the field. He sets short- and long-term goals and he pursues them with great accomplishment.”

“Kuster knows how to keep in control when he’s on the mound pitching. One of the challenging games I’ve seen him pitch was against Snowflake when he was a sophomore. It was bottom of the ninth inning and the score was 2-3 Bulldogs. It was two outs with 3-2 count and runners on first and second base.  His next pitch was a strike. And they won first place for regional champions. I like to watch that video. It was an exciting game,” added Orlinda.

“Kuster had to come home from Alabama due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Orlinda. “So he was working during this time. He kept up with his workouts and eating healthy to keep in shape for baseball. He was disciplined with his job, and he made sure he got to work on time and did what he was asked to do. He’s an excellent worker that his manager didn’t want him to leave. He tells me working is like baseball. If you don’t show up or you’re being lazy, they will find someone to replace you that is willing to do the work. As a mother, I didn’t have to worry about him being independent and making decisions.”

“Kuster did not give up after the tragedy of his little brother Kyler passing from a car accident on August 7, 2014,” said Orlinda. “He continued with his school and baseball. He teaches his little brother Stormy baseball workouts, and healthy eating. He has been an inspiration to everyone he encounters.”

“I support him with lots of love and prayers. I attend his baseball games as much as possible. I miss him being home, however I want what is best for him so I allow him to go pursue his goals and desires,” added Orlinda.

“I do strength training to maximize my performance,” said Kuster. “To be honest I am not the biggest guy on the field when compared to how the standards are of baseball for a pitcher now. Strength training has allowed me to throw faster and utilize my body more. In high school, I was throwing about 80 to 83 mph but since then and now I throw 87 to 90 mph. Strength training has challenged my mentality as well in that you have to push yourself even when you do not feel like it.”

“It was the summer after my sophomore year at Phoenix College in Arizona,” recalled Kuster. “I had just come off a good year. I only had about 20 innings but in those 20 innings I came in to close the game or get us out of a tough situation. I was uncommitted so I still had coaches calling me but none seemed like a fit,” said Kuster.

“One day while working out, a coach from a university in Alabama called me saying he liked my video and we continued to talk and then offered me a scholarship a few days later. I talked with my mom and decided that is where I want to go because it was a great baseball program that just came off a NCAA Regional appearance and would be the best decision financial-wise. I came to this school not knowing what anything looked like including the coaches,” added Kuster.

“Since then I have met and built relationships with some of the greatest guys this world has to offer at that school,” said Kuster. “I can count on the coaches and come to them with anything and they are there. They recently sent me to a summer collegiate league called the Northwoods, one of the top collegiate summer leagues, and in the Midwest of the United States. I met baseball players from schools all over the United States. That list included players from Stanford, Notre Dame, TCU, South Carolina, UIC, GCU, and Cal Poly all from high Division I programs and even guys that were drafted.”

“I played against players from the SEC, ACC, PAC-12, BIG 10 and BIG 12 conferences. It was an unreal experience and not many people where I come from can say that. It was fascinating to see how these high-level players separate themselves from the others. It was the small things that made a big difference for them. I took that in and learned from that to help me compete,” added Kuster. 

“My senior year in high school started in the fall of 2019,” said Kuster. “For some reason, the team you are with your senior year seems to be much more special than the others. The season started in the spring and we started out great and then hit a couple bumps but started to figure it out again. Then unfortunately, my senior year was cut short due to the coronovirus going on, but I have been fortunate that I will be given a year of eligibility to come back and play as well as be on scholarship.”

“Having my senior season cut short has emphasized that you never know when something is going to be taken away so do it with everything you got and leave no remorse,” added Kuster.  

Photo Credit: Kuster Kinlecheenie and Nate Velez