Bountiful softball — Region title capped a stellar Braves' season

BOUNTIFUL — The Bountiful softball program will be without the coach who helped build the program into a perennial power, but the Braves return a roster full of talent hoping to improve on a season of accomplishments.

"I think I'm leaving it better than I found it," said head coach Kelly Anderson, who will be the athletic director at Syracuse High next year. "They're going to be unbelievable next year. They've got a chance to be very, very good."

Under Anderson's leadership the Braves won their fourth region title in a row and finished in the top five in the 4A State Tournament.

"I think we did everything we were supposed to do," said Anderson. "We had a pretty good group of kids."

Bountiful assistant Butch Latey will take over the Braves program, and Anderson said they remain close friends. He even envisions a budding rivalry between the new 5A school and Bountiful. No matter who's coaching, Anderson said what happens on the field has more to do with the players.

"It's the kids who win the games," he said. And the Braves will have a roster full of players with both the ability and desire next spring.

Bountiful loses just two seniors to graduation — Kyli Flanary and Shelly Stuart.

Flanary, a pitcher, was "our strength," Anderson said. "We kind of looked to her to lead us. She was the hardest-throwing pitcher we had, and she was just strong."

Stuart, who played second base for the Braves, was the team's steady defender.

"She did a bunch of things to get us going. She was our lead-off hitter, and she was a leader to our young kids."

While the Braves will miss Stuart and Flanary, catcher Kim Weese, who will be a senior next year, will lead a tough group of athletes.

"You have to start with Kim Weese," he said when talking about Bountiful's talent next year. "She's a coach on the field. She's the chief in charge."

In addition to Weese, the Braves will rely on the talent of Lindsay Parkin, pitcher; Madi White, third base and pitcher; Heather Stucki, outfield; and Taylor Austin, shortstop.

"We had a great season," Anderson said. The Braves finished region play with an 11-1 record and lost in the quarterfinals to Springville. They beat Payson in the consolation round but lost to Roy in the next game.