For most 18-year-old, first-year college students, the daunting task of playing softball in the Pan American Games at the highest international Olympic level would be overwhelming. This was not the case for Santa Fe freshman Karla Claudio-Rivera.
Claudio-Rivera played every inning of every game for the Puerto Rican national team and hit .389 with a slugging percentage of .611, an on-base percentage of .500, and a stolen base to go with seven RBI.
he overall experience of the Pan Am Games was something Claudio-Rivera said she will not soon forget.
“I had an amazing time at the games,” she said. “I didn’t expect how great the experience actually would be. It’s been the best thing that has happened in my life so far, and I will never forget it.”
She also credited some of her success to her time at Santa Fe, acknowledging the hard work of the Saints’ coaching staff.
“I hope to continue the success here at Santa Fe that I had in Guadalajara,” Claudio-Rivera said. “I feel like the three months I’ve spent at SF have played a major part in my development as a hitter, pitcher and fielder.”
Santa Fe coach Chris Ahern was thrilled with the success Claudio-Rivera had at the Pan Am Games and looks forward to watching her develop as a player in a Santa Fe uniform.
“Karla is a great athlete who aspires to and works hard at achieving greatness,” said Ahern. “She has all the tools: hitter, fielder, base running, great arm, and she has the ability to be a very successful pitcher. She showed this against the University of Florida, Florida State, USF and others, and also at the Pan Am Games. We are so lucky to have a player of her caliber in a Saints uniform.”
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~ by Scott Jamison, SF Athletics