Senior Lancer and softball centerfielder Kai Minor is set to leave Orange Lutheran as one of the most decorated athletes in school history. However, Minor didn't instantly fall in love with softball when she first began playing at age five.
 
Minor's parents initially signed her up for the sport, mostly because she had a brother who played baseball. Her interests at the time were in dance, tennis and other pursuits. But once she started playing the game and making friends, there was no doubt in her mind that softball was what she wanted to do.
 
"Honestly, it just completes me," says Minor of softball. "It just makes me happy. If I'm ever having a bad day, I'll just go outside and hit, or I'll play catch with my dad. I just love training, I love the competitive edge, I love pressure. I love all of it."
 
Minor's level of play makes her a game-changer on both sides of the ball, but she is likely known best for her elite defense in centerfield. Although she spent her early years in the sport as a pitcher, her speed and range in the outfield have made her one of the top players in both the state and the country.
 
And Minor's highlight-reel catches are memorable, including her catch in last year's CIF-SS Division 1 championship game against Pacifica, which ranks as her favorite moment in an OLu uniform.
 
"That was just an electric moment," says Minor. "I felt the excitement of my teammates. It was amazing."
 
Minor has earned a long list of awards in her time as a Lancer, including being a two-time Trinity League MVP, along with 1^st Team All-League, All-County and All-CIF honors. She was the Cal-Hi Sports Freshman of the Year and is currently ranked as the top player in California by MaxPreps.
 
But Minor would say the area she is focusing on for her senior season is leadership and elevating those around her, specifically the younger Lancers in the program.
 
"It's been fun watching Kai grow and mature as a softball player during her career at Orange Lutheran," says OLu softball head coach Steve Miklos. "She's a phenomenal athlete that stands out both offensively and defensively on our team. In addition to her being a 5-tool player, she has become a leader on our team this season and a mentor to our younger players."
 
The Lancers have won four Trinity League titles in a row and Minor hopes to help lead the team to a fifth, as well as compete for a CIF championship. Having spent most of her career playing on travel ball teams, the four-year varsity player values playing for Orange Lutheran, where the school puts faith at the forefront.
 
"Playing for God and playing with people that share a similar faith as me, it's really important," says Minor.
 
The Oklahoma commit is headed to a program that has won four straight NCAA titles. Minor saw alignment with the team's coaches and mindset, and she is certain it's the right place to take her next steps. She cites dealing with the pressure as the most challenging part of the sport, but she has also learned plenty about maturity.
 
"I would say being a professional, just knowing your place, knowing your role," says Minor of what softball has taught her. "Just like in life, you know what to do and when to do it."
 
Alongside playing collegiate softball, Minor plans on studying health and sport sciences en route to becoming a doctor. She is grateful for her coaches, peers and Lancer teammates, including fellow seniors Grace Harrison and Chloe McGreevey. The 17-year old also acknowledges all her parents have done to support her passion for the game.
 
"They strive to help me to be the best person I can be every day," says Minor of her mom and dad. "Whether it's through the positives and the negatives, even if I'm down, they try to lift me up."