ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
Up next in the senior spotlight series is
Samantha Sullivan who has been a productive starting pitcher in her career for the Golden Bear softball team. Sullivan, an exercise science major from Greenville, Wisconsin, has appeared in 89 games and has started in 77 games in the circle during her four years at Concordia.
With a career record of 27-34 and a career ERA of 4.01, Sullivan has improved in the circle each of her four seasons. She had an excellent junior year when she went 13-9 with a 3.41 ERA and struck out 109 batters in 141.2 innings of work. That carried over into her senior year as she held a 2-3 record with a 3.32 ERA, striking out 21 batters in 25.1 innings in six games and five starts. She faced 115 batters this season and only gave up two extra base hits in her 25.1 innings of work. She ranks sixth all time in program history with 275 strikeouts and she ranks fifth all time in program history with 81 batters struck out looking.
This season, Sullivan was in a grove her in her final two starts, she pitched a complete game shutout victory against Cedarville, allowing only five hits while striking out five batters in seven innings. She followed that up with another complete game victory over Saint Rose, allowing only two earned runs while striking out two.
Head coach Bob Bartel on Samantha Sullivan:
"Sammi loved to compete and that showed every time she entered the circle. She gave everything she had in every pitch she threw during her career. Her competitiveness will be missed as will her great stories, especially her pet fish stories."
SAMANTHA SULLIVAN – IN HER OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
SS: I have been playing ball since I was in kindergarten, but softball was offered when I was in 3rd grade.
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
SS: I really enjoyed the coaching staff and was excited about the opportunities I would get academic-wise being in the Twin Cities.
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
SS: There are so many to choose from. Sports-wise going to Florida every year and getting Twistee Treat. Non-sports-wise just creating a community of people that I know I can count on to have fun adventures with.
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
SS: My amazing friends, teammates, coaches, and KHS professors.
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
SS: I am taking a gap year to figure out my next steps of finding a graduate school for physical therapy.
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
SS: I have no idea what God has in store for me, I am just taking it day by day.
CSP: Who is a staff or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
SS: Dr. Ostrem, he showed me that it is okay not knowing what's going to happen next after college. He showed me that there are a bunch of options out in the world and I can do anything that I set my mind to.
CSP: Who is your role model?
SS: My role model is my Grandma Gerrits. She is the most loving person who puts everyone's needs before hers. She is extremely hard working and is determined to do anything she puts her mind to. Being the oldest girl out of sixteen children, she is determined to make sure that all the kids were taken care of and that dinner was ready at the same time every day. Her faith is also extremely strong, and I strive to be half the woman that she is.
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
SS: Hard work pays off in the end.
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
SS: Enjoy every moment, time flies fast and before you know it you are a senior trying to figure out your next chapter in life.
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
SS: Hannah Gustafson, because her drive and motivation is something that I have never seen before. She is always striving to be the best version of herself. The way that she cares for her teammates and other people is something that needs recognition. She has helped me through so much and I am proud to call her my friend.
