Softball Honored in Senior Salute
TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Athletic Department would like to celebrate the careers and accomplishments of the softball team this week. Due to their season getting cut short, we will honor each student-athlete who will not get a normal senior salute at the end of the season.
The Spartans softball team graduates five seniors this year: Kailee Clark, Cristina Clauberg, Maddie Farrell, Sam Kaye, and Lauren Reyes. These five players have led the program for the past few years and been instrumental to team successes including a recent NCAA postseason appearance and winning 2020 season.
Kailee Clark, an infielder from Colorado Spring, Colorado, graduates from the University of Tampa with a degree in Marketing. For her success academically, Clark has earned a spot on the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll every year as a Spartan. During the shortened 2020 season, Clark appeared in seven games, scoring twice and finishing the season with a 1.000 fielding percentage. She had a multi-hit game against Southwest Minnesota State (03/11) this season and was instrumental in bringing runners home to secure wins against Southwest Minnesota State and Eckerd College.
From Tampa, Florida, Cristina Clauberg graduates from UT with a degree in Elementary Education. Clauberg, who played second base for the Spartans, is a three time member of the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll, as well as a recipient of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award. She has had 399 at bats in 147 games for the Spartans and was able to finish the shortened 2020 season with 24 game appearances in which she scored five times and drove in 14 runs. Her senior season also included her first career triple and a season fielding percentage of .975.
Maddie Farrell, a catcher from Valrico, Florida, graduates from UT with a degree in Sport Management. Farrell has appeared in 152 games for the Spartans, having 420 at bats during that time. Farrell finds herself in the all time record book in a few categories, most notably in seventh place for most runs batted in (79 RBI) and eighth place for her impressive fielding percentage (.992). She was due for a hot senior season after coming off a junior campaign in which she led the team in RBI (24), tied at the top in batting average (.288) and included a season high three home runs, one each month from February to April of 2019. In addition to her numerous athletic accomplishments, Farrell has also been named to the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Left handed pitcher Sam Kaye, graduates from the Universtiy of Tampa with a degree in Marketing. The Watchung, N.J., native has collected two D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards and been a member of the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her years for Tampa. In her senior season, Kaye pitched 22.0 innings and struck out 11 batters, including a season-high four batters against Florida Southern, and she also recorded her first career home run in a win against Wingate (02/08). She closed out her career with a win against Southwest Minnesota State where she gave up only four hits and a single run.
Lauren Reyes, an outfielder from Tampa, Florida has appeared in 93 games for the Spartans, making 98 at bats during that time. Her sophomore season began her breakout career as she made 31 appearances with 21 starts in the 2018 season. Reyes finished that season with 11 hits, five runs, and three RBI, also logging 24 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage. She was due for a hot senior season, as she played in 46 games her junior campaign and recorded a start in all but one. During her time at Tampa, she earned time as the designated player for her fielding ability, and she also logged the second-most putouts by a non-catcher in her junior year. She wrapped up the 2019 season with a .989 fielding percentage and wraps up her senior year in a similar fashion. In her senior year, Reyes appeared in 10 games with 22 defensive chances, one assist, and boasts a .955 fielding percentage on the season.
The University of Tampa Athletic Department would like to extend congratulations to the softball Class of 2020 for their impressive careers, academically and athletically. As these women go on to the next chapter of their lives, we wish them all the best, and we thank them for their dedication to the program, the school, and their sport.
Please join the Tampa Spartans as we honor the seniors for each of our spring sports teams. As a result of the cancelation of all spring games and competition, typical senior-honoring events have also been canceled. We will select a different team each week for which we will honor those graduating this year.
Follow us @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with our senior salutes.