Broken Bow High School’s softball team thrives off leadership from players like senior Kale Bray.

“Leadership and service is important to me because it helps to bring out the best in people and achieve goals together. It provides guidance, motivation and direction, making sure everyone is on the same page and working towards success,” Bray said.

Bray serves as an officer for JAG, a program that helps students aspire towards future success.

“[JAG] helps students overcome challenges to become successful adults. We do different things like community provision projects, a blanket drive for Dialysis Center, a sock drive for Hills Nursing Home, class projects, life vision projects. We also went to the State Capital with my officer team,” Bray said.

Bray wouldn’t be who she is today without her family and coaches.

“The people who have impacted me the most are my parents and my older sister, Kaitlynn. They have always supported me no matter what,” Bray said. “And I want to thank Coach Harris for getting me to love the game again. He has made a very big impact in my life.”

Bray grew up in a sports-oriented family as her softball journey began when her parents put her in tee ball at 3 years old, then Sweet Tees at 5-6, then travel and league softball at 7.

“Softball has always just been a fun game to me to go out there and compete against different girls around me. I’ve gained so many different friends from playing this game. I just love the adrenaline you get when you step on the field, especially when competing at the high school level,” Bray said. “It’s just different because you are working towards getting to the Hall of Fame Stadium.”

Bray has played several times at U.S.A Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, where state softball tournaments are hosted every year. She was part of the last Broken Bow team to win a state title in 2021 when the Savages thwarted Tecumseh in the 5A state slow pitch championship. This spring, her singular focus is bringing one more championship home.

“This year is going to take us working together as a team, not getting in our heads thinking just because the other team is good and scoring a bunch doesn’t mean we can’t score runs too,” Bray said. “We are going to have to hit the ball and have good defense no matter the time of day or where we are at.”

After high school, Bray plans to attend Kiamichi Tech’s nursing program.