By Ken Hansard
Last spring, the Derby Panthers softball team finished the always competitive AVCTL D1 with a 10-4 record. Their overall record was 23-8, and they placed third at the 6A KSHSAA State Championships. This spring, senior catcher Kayla Cooper and her teammates are looking to take that final step towards glory. “A goal we have for this season is to win league, win regionals and compete for a state championship.”
As a junior who posted an on-base percentage of .417 and threw out 10 base runners, Kayla was named All-League at catcher for Division 1 of the AVCL. Despite those successes, Cooper worked hard in the off-season in hopes of pushing her individual statistics and the team’s success to the next level, “Working hard in the off-season is crucial because we play such a tough schedule. I really wanted to be a stronger hitter and catcher, so I worked really hard with my hitting, catching, and club coaches to strengthen my skills. I also focused on my mentality. The hardest part of being an athlete is keeping a strong, positive mindset. To that end, Bible studies and journaling has renewed and strengthened my mind.”
One other goal that Kayla has is to use her seniority and leadership to leave the program in the best place possible, “I think my role as a senior is to be an encouraging leader. As a catcher I have a strong voice on the team, so I always want to be uplifting. I want to be someone who always works hard and shows up for my team every single day. I’m looking forward to making so many memories with my team. All the girls get along really well, so I’m excited to see where this season takes us.”
When she is not on the diamond, Kayla stays active in her school and church communities. She and her friends lead an extended branch of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at Derby High called Jesus Club. She also serves in her church and is a group leader for a sixth grade Youth Group. She is also a part of a hand selected group of student leaders through her church called Capacity. Kayla is also a strong student, with a GPA of 3.7.
Her future plans are to attend Friends University to play softball and Major in Interior Design and Minor in Ministry.
