By Hayden Swope

Kyler Demel of Derby knows that this senior season will be a bittersweet one. Demel was a first team all-league and second team all-state outfielder last season.

“My biggest goal is to win a state championship for the last time I get to play with these girls,” Demel said.

With other sports wrapping up, Demel took any moment she could to work and train on the field.

“I was very busy with basketball but I tried to always find time to continue to work on my swing and be consistent outside of the couple practices I could attend a week,” Demel said.

Ready to take on the competition this season, Demel still remembers the moment she sent the Panthers to the second round of state the year before.

“It was the first round of state last season,” Demel said. “We were playing Manhattan, it was the bottom of the seventh inning and we were down by one. I was up to bat, two outs, two balls, two strikes, and I hit a double to score a run and tie the game and we ended up winning.”

Demel plans to become a Grizzly in the fall and continue her softball journey for years to come.

“I plan to go to Butler Community College and play softball but my major is still undecided,” Demel said.