Bureau Valley softball: Storm looking to take next step

MANLIUS - The Bureau Valley Storm softball team took some baby steps last year, winning their first regional game since winning regional in 2006.

This year, the Storm hope to take more steps.

“We finally won a regional game last year. We want to win a few more this year and be playing for a regional championship,”said third-year head coach Greg Sayler, whose team beat Savanna West Carroll 13-3 in regional play last year.

“We are looking to build off last year and keep getting better and moving up in the standings.”

Their season is slated to open Wednesday at Princeville.

This year’s Storm squad has a mix of players from all levels, including five seniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.

There are five returning starters from last year, including pitcher Tyra Sayler and catcher Darla Kepner, who form the Storm battery for the fourth year together. The Storm will also be looking for big things at the plate from them.

Sayler went 5-13 with a 4.81 while tying the BV school single-season record with five home runs last year and batted .511. Kepner batted .395 with 17 RBI and three homers.

Other returning starters are senior second baseman Kalee Carlson (.310), and sophomore outfielder Emma Stabler. A fifth, sophomore Kate Stoller, is unable to play this year due to a dislocated a bone in her hand.

Kyra Stoller, who has had an injury-plagued senior year of volleyball and basketball, has come back out her for softball and will play first base for the Storm.

Senior Addison Hicks and juniors Callie Schoff and Liana Ledergerber will be playing outfield.

There are three freshmen looking to fill a big role.

Lesleigh Maynard will play shortstop, Madison Smith will pitch and play third base while McKinley Canady will fill an utility player role, playing outfield, catcher and infield.

“We’ve been in the gym since January with open gyms and then went onto practices. All the girls have been working hard and are ready to get outside on the dirt,” Greg Sayler said.

Most of all, coach Sayler said the Storm are excited to get a full season of softball after missing the 2020 season and having a condensed season in 2021 due to COVID-19.

“We are very excited that after three years we finally get a ‘normal” softball season. “Even though all the sports last year were overlapped and crammed together, we were thankful to get to play and have a season.”