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Patience turned out to be a virtue for Cambria Heights graduate and Penn State Altoona shortstop Karli Storm during her softball career.
As coach Bill Graham's first recruit with the Lions, Storm shattered the program's previous career walks record by 47 as she finished with 107. Staying disciplined and making sound swing decisions at the plate were just a few reasons why Storm finds her name littered throughout the program's record book as her career came to a close May 9.
"What stands out most to me is the relationships and growth throughout my four years," Storm said. "Coming in as a freshman and leaving as the lone senior this year, I got to experience a lot of different moments with the program. I’m proud of the consistency I was able to have on the field, but I’m even more proud of how much I grew as a teammate, leader and person. Being part of this program taught me resilience, accountability and how important it is to compete for something bigger than yourself."
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm makes a throw across the diamond for an out in this undated photo.
Storm, who helped Cambria Heights win its first District 6 softball title in 2021, led the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in walks during each of her four seasons at the NCAA Division III level. She was a four-year starter with the Lions, helping the team win the 2023 league title and earning a spot on the AMCC first team in 2026 and second team in 2023 and 2025.
Graham was initially surprised when Storm committed to Penn State Altoona, which advanced to the 2026 AMCC title game with league player of the year Riley Best and Richland graduate Kendal Wadsworth producing along the way.
"Karli was my first recruit after I got the job at Penn State Altoona," said Graham, who also was the head coach at Indiana (Pa.) from 2010-18 and was an assistant with three NCAA Division I programs. "I couldn't believe she was still available as a recruit. When she went to Alabama for a tournament, I figured someone would come in and scoop her up. She chose to stay close to home and it paid off for us on the field. More importantly, she will be graduating next year and I know if she puts her on-field personality into her career, she will be great at that, too."
Storm finished first at Penn State Altoona in assists (390); third in games played (152), double plays (28), on-base percentage (.491), RBIs (102) and sacrifice flies (six); fourth in plate appearances (545), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.016), doubles (34), extra-base hits (47) and total chances (697); fifth in runs scored (113); seventh in hits (153); eighth in slugging percentage (.525) and total bases (221); and ninth in at-bats (421) and triples (five).
She slugged eight career homers and batted .363. Her patience and power made her a fixture in the middle of the order while handling a demanding defensive position at shortstop.
Storm saved her best season for last, batting .413 with 48 runs, 12 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, 39 walks, a .559 on-base percentage and a .752 slugging percentage.
'Stay calm'
While many softball hitters swing often, Storm had no problem getting deep into counts and trusting her instincts on when to swing. In playing 152 games, Storm kept a slow heartbeat to remain cool and confident in her abilities.
"I’ve always believed that every at-bat is about discipline and trusting myself," Storm said. "A lot of hitters feel pressure to swing early or force something to happen, but my approach has always been to stay calm and make the pitcher come to me. I take pride in knowing the strike zone and being willing to work deep counts. Drawing walks isn’t always flashy, but getting on base helps the team just as much as a hit does."
She tallied 107 walks compared to 52 strikeouts. Storm combined her previous knowledge learned from years of compiled at-bats with preparation to form her identity at the plate and become a convicted hitter.
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm makes a throw across the diamond for an out in this undated photo.
"A lot of it comes from experience and preparation," Storm said. "Over the years, I learned how to slow the game down mentally and really focus on pitch recognition out of the pitcher’s hand. I spent a lot of time studying pitchers, learning tendencies and becoming comfortable hitting with two strikes. Confidence also plays a huge role. Once you trust your eyes and your approach, it becomes easier to lay off pitches that aren’t yours."
Storm said she was a patient hitter throughout her career, but her plate discipline progressed even more in college when she commanded the strike zone better. Her discerning eyes were the key to the right-handed hitter reaching base at a high clip.
"I think I always had some patience at the plate, but it definitely evolved in college," Storm said. "In high school, I probably chased more pitches because I knew I could still put the ball in play. Once I got to college, the level of pitching improved and I realized how important it was to be selective. Over time, patience became one of the biggest strengths of my game."
Storm trusted her abilities and took until she got a strike, which is rare in softball.
"Karli has her own approach to her at-bats," Graham said. "It really is amazing and I can probably say this now, but she always took until she got a strike. So while everyone else can have three strikes, Karli only used two really. It's crazy with her discipline and commitment to that style. I wish she would have swung more. She's that good, but the object is to get on base and she did that better than almost anyone I have coached. Karli drew over 100 walks in her career. Most kids celebrate 100 hits. What she accomplished with the walks, and her hitting is truly amazing."
'Set the tone'
As the lone senior in 2026, Storm's veteran leadership was integral to her teammates.
"Being the lone senior was really special to me," Storm said. "I knew I had a responsibility to set the tone every day, whether that was through work ethic, positivity or helping younger players feel confident. I tried to lead by example and just be someone my teammates could rely on. It meant a lot to be trusted in that role, and I really embraced the opportunity to help guide the team this season."
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm takes a swing in this undated photo.
Staying positive was one of Storm's hallmarks.
"Karli enjoyed her time as a senior the most," Graham said. "Her leadership showed in practice and competition. She was able to keep everyone even-keeled and looking forward. Her positivity was well-received by everyone and she just wanted to make her teammates better and have fun all year long."
'Biggest growth'
While her physical skills improved over her career, Storm said her mental game ascended to new levels.
"I think I improved the most mentally," Storm said. "Physically, I became more confident defensively and more disciplined offensively, but mentally is where I saw the biggest growth. I learned how to stay composed during pressure situations, how to handle failure better and how to stay confident even during tough stretches. I also became more vocal and comfortable stepping into leadership roles over time."
Storm's drive to never stay complacent impressed Graham.
"She comes to practice, games, conditioning with the right mindset of getting the most out of the day," Graham said. "The biggest thing that stands out for me has to be the drive to be good each time she steps on the field. No at-bat is wasted. No ground ball is not important. She wills herself to be the best player she can be. That attitude rubs off on the other teammates. She is also so steady. It's hard to tell if she goes 10-for-10 or 0-for-10. Karli has made the team better each time she is out there."
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As coach Bill Graham's first recruit with the Lions, Storm shattered the program's previous career walks record by 47 as she finished with 107. Staying disciplined and making sound swing decisions at the plate were just a few reasons why Storm finds her name littered throughout the program's record book as her career came to a close May 9.
"What stands out most to me is the relationships and growth throughout my four years," Storm said. "Coming in as a freshman and leaving as the lone senior this year, I got to experience a lot of different moments with the program. I’m proud of the consistency I was able to have on the field, but I’m even more proud of how much I grew as a teammate, leader and person. Being part of this program taught me resilience, accountability and how important it is to compete for something bigger than yourself."
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm makes a throw across the diamond for an out in this undated photo.
Storm, who helped Cambria Heights win its first District 6 softball title in 2021, led the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in walks during each of her four seasons at the NCAA Division III level. She was a four-year starter with the Lions, helping the team win the 2023 league title and earning a spot on the AMCC first team in 2026 and second team in 2023 and 2025.
Graham was initially surprised when Storm committed to Penn State Altoona, which advanced to the 2026 AMCC title game with league player of the year Riley Best and Richland graduate Kendal Wadsworth producing along the way.
"Karli was my first recruit after I got the job at Penn State Altoona," said Graham, who also was the head coach at Indiana (Pa.) from 2010-18 and was an assistant with three NCAA Division I programs. "I couldn't believe she was still available as a recruit. When she went to Alabama for a tournament, I figured someone would come in and scoop her up. She chose to stay close to home and it paid off for us on the field. More importantly, she will be graduating next year and I know if she puts her on-field personality into her career, she will be great at that, too."
Storm finished first at Penn State Altoona in assists (390); third in games played (152), double plays (28), on-base percentage (.491), RBIs (102) and sacrifice flies (six); fourth in plate appearances (545), on-base plus slugging percentage (1.016), doubles (34), extra-base hits (47) and total chances (697); fifth in runs scored (113); seventh in hits (153); eighth in slugging percentage (.525) and total bases (221); and ninth in at-bats (421) and triples (five).
She slugged eight career homers and batted .363. Her patience and power made her a fixture in the middle of the order while handling a demanding defensive position at shortstop.
Storm saved her best season for last, batting .413 with 48 runs, 12 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, 39 walks, a .559 on-base percentage and a .752 slugging percentage.
'Stay calm'
While many softball hitters swing often, Storm had no problem getting deep into counts and trusting her instincts on when to swing. In playing 152 games, Storm kept a slow heartbeat to remain cool and confident in her abilities.
"I’ve always believed that every at-bat is about discipline and trusting myself," Storm said. "A lot of hitters feel pressure to swing early or force something to happen, but my approach has always been to stay calm and make the pitcher come to me. I take pride in knowing the strike zone and being willing to work deep counts. Drawing walks isn’t always flashy, but getting on base helps the team just as much as a hit does."
She tallied 107 walks compared to 52 strikeouts. Storm combined her previous knowledge learned from years of compiled at-bats with preparation to form her identity at the plate and become a convicted hitter.
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm makes a throw across the diamond for an out in this undated photo.
"A lot of it comes from experience and preparation," Storm said. "Over the years, I learned how to slow the game down mentally and really focus on pitch recognition out of the pitcher’s hand. I spent a lot of time studying pitchers, learning tendencies and becoming comfortable hitting with two strikes. Confidence also plays a huge role. Once you trust your eyes and your approach, it becomes easier to lay off pitches that aren’t yours."
Storm said she was a patient hitter throughout her career, but her plate discipline progressed even more in college when she commanded the strike zone better. Her discerning eyes were the key to the right-handed hitter reaching base at a high clip.
"I think I always had some patience at the plate, but it definitely evolved in college," Storm said. "In high school, I probably chased more pitches because I knew I could still put the ball in play. Once I got to college, the level of pitching improved and I realized how important it was to be selective. Over time, patience became one of the biggest strengths of my game."
Storm trusted her abilities and took until she got a strike, which is rare in softball.
"Karli has her own approach to her at-bats," Graham said. "It really is amazing and I can probably say this now, but she always took until she got a strike. So while everyone else can have three strikes, Karli only used two really. It's crazy with her discipline and commitment to that style. I wish she would have swung more. She's that good, but the object is to get on base and she did that better than almost anyone I have coached. Karli drew over 100 walks in her career. Most kids celebrate 100 hits. What she accomplished with the walks, and her hitting is truly amazing."
'Set the tone'
As the lone senior in 2026, Storm's veteran leadership was integral to her teammates.
"Being the lone senior was really special to me," Storm said. "I knew I had a responsibility to set the tone every day, whether that was through work ethic, positivity or helping younger players feel confident. I tried to lead by example and just be someone my teammates could rely on. It meant a lot to be trusted in that role, and I really embraced the opportunity to help guide the team this season."
Karli Storm
Penn State Altoona's Karli Storm takes a swing in this undated photo.
Staying positive was one of Storm's hallmarks.
"Karli enjoyed her time as a senior the most," Graham said. "Her leadership showed in practice and competition. She was able to keep everyone even-keeled and looking forward. Her positivity was well-received by everyone and she just wanted to make her teammates better and have fun all year long."
'Biggest growth'
While her physical skills improved over her career, Storm said her mental game ascended to new levels.
"I think I improved the most mentally," Storm said. "Physically, I became more confident defensively and more disciplined offensively, but mentally is where I saw the biggest growth. I learned how to stay composed during pressure situations, how to handle failure better and how to stay confident even during tough stretches. I also became more vocal and comfortable stepping into leadership roles over time."
Storm's drive to never stay complacent impressed Graham.
"She comes to practice, games, conditioning with the right mindset of getting the most out of the day," Graham said. "The biggest thing that stands out for me has to be the drive to be good each time she steps on the field. No at-bat is wasted. No ground ball is not important. She wills herself to be the best player she can be. That attitude rubs off on the other teammates. She is also so steady. It's hard to tell if she goes 10-for-10 or 0-for-10. Karli has made the team better each time she is out there."
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