STANFORD, Calif. – Ask those who know Kayla Bonstrom, and the word “driven” comes up frequently. The junior first baseman from Tucson, Arizona, leads the Stanford women’s softball team in almost every offensive category and it’s no fluke.
“The No. 1 thing that stands out is the work ethic she has,” said first-year Cardinal head coach Rachel Hanson. “She just puts in the reps and tweaks and fiddles until it’s perfect. And then she goes to work some more to ingrain it.”
In a game at Pacific last month, Bonstrom blasted a grand slam, two doubles, walked twice and drove in six runs. What will she remember most?
“It was a great win and we fought really hard,” she said.
Bonstrom leads the team with a .444 average and boasts a .815 slugging percentage with 10 home runs, 14 doubles and 45 RBIs. She also has a sparkling fielding percentage of .997.
Bonstrom’s passion isn’t limited to softball. An international relations major, she was recently selected to the Center for International and Cooperation Interschool Honors Program in International Security Studies to develop a senior thesis with the federal government related to national security.
This, after originally coming to Stanford to pursue a degree in biology or science with thoughts of becoming a nurse practitioner or doctor without borders.
“I spent my first two years exploring different paths,” said Bonstrom. “I switched majors three or four times. In the winter of my sophomore year I took two classes about how the world is changing, international events and how international security changes with different trends of the world and I absolutely loved them. We had a lot of great speakers including the former head of the FBI and Professor Condoleezza Rice. I thought, ‘Wow. This is something I can see myself studying for a long time.’’’
Last summer, Bonstrom studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. She learned to speak Spanish, traveled the country and even went horseback riding in the Andes.
“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” she said. “When I came back, I had a lot more fire to play softball.”
A participant in the Hoover Institute National Security Affairs Mentorship program, Bonstrom also worked as a writing correspondent for I Love Chile News while studying abroad. And when she isn’t studying, practicing or playing in games, Bonstrom volunteers at the Redwood City International Institute of the Bay Area, where she helps immigrants prepare for citizen tests.
“At the end of the day, I always knew Stanford was where I wanted to go push myself athletically and academically,” she said.
In September, Bonstrom will spend two weeks in Washington D.C. with a select group of Stanford undergraduates to study and meet with people who help shape U.S. national security policies and strategies.
“I am so incredibly honored,” said Bonstrom. “It still seems like a dream, but eventually I’m going to wake up. It’s a great opportunity to meet people whose positions I aspire to hold one day and get an account of what’s going on in the world.”
Hanson isn’t surprised she was chosen.
“Off the field, she brings the same level of dedication and perseverance to everything she is working on,” Hanson said. “She certainly is competitive, but mostly with herself. She’s always trying to be better than she was the day before.”
Last year, Bonstrom played first base, catcher and pitcher and knocked in a team-best 44 RBIs, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors and was a Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team pick.
In 2013, Bonstrom was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and was First-Team All-Pac-12. Her .404 batting average ranked fourth in the conference and she drove in 55 runs, posting 19 multiple RBI games.
“I’ve gone through a bunch of ups and downs in my career,” said Bonstrom. “Playing against better players was a big adjustment my freshman year. I’ve learned a lot the last two years, especially on the mental side. I also have a very supportive team.”
She’s a team player and durable. Bonstrom played in 57 of 59 games as a freshman, all 55 last year and hasn’t missed a game in 2015.
“She actually came in as an outfielder,” Hanson said. “There was a need and she turned herself into a very strong-fielding first baseman.”
Bonstrom will try and help her injury-plagued softball team finish strong in the always challenging Pac-12 Conference. The 16-26 Cardinal begin a three-game series against No. 1/2 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (PT).
“There’s no getting around it; we’ve had a tough season,” Bonstrom said. “The biggest thing is individually, everyone is still hardwired to compete. We’ve done a great job of approaching every game with a competitive mindset. We just have to keep plugging. To be the best at Stanford is a driving force.”
Bonstrom credits Hanson, who coached at Dartmouth the last four years, for keeping things positive.
“She was brought into a difficult situation and has done a great job of establishing her own coaching style,” she said. “I think we’re on a great path now.”
So is Bonstrom.