photo by: Courtesy of Sam Claire

Eudora senior pitcher Sam Claire will stay close to home after committing to KU softball.

Sam Claire grew up in Kansas City before moving to Eudora, and the University of Kansas always loomed large for the senior softball pitcher. So when KU called, it was special.

The Eudora ace will play softball in Lawrence upon the conclusion of her final high school season.

Eudora softball, over the past few seasons, has been one of the most consistent teams in the state, finishing in third place the last two years after winning it all three years ago. The credit goes to the consistent talent that has come through Eudora, but Claire holds a particularly elevated place on the team. In her junior year, she pitched a 2.25 ERA with 14 of the team’s 22 wins prior to the playoffs. Claire also batted a .467 average.

As for her decision, the official visit sealed the deal.

“Ultimately it came down to what felt like home,” Claire said. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew I wanted to go to KU. After talking to coach (Jennifer) McFalls, I knew I was meant to be at KU.”

What stood out about that conversation was how McFalls made Claire feel that the coach wanted to be a part of her future pitcher’s life inside and outside of softball. KU stood out in more than its welcoming, homey feel. Claire had always dreamed of playing softball at the highest collegiate level. For most of Claire’s recruitment process, she heard from mid-major schools instead of those in the top conferences. That made KU’s interest in her that much more special — it was a chance to compete at the level she always dreamed of.

It was Claire’s freshman year of high school when she started to get attention from college coaches. While coaches aren’t allowed to communicate with players until their junior year, they’ll come to games, invite players to camp and make their presence known in other ways. For Claire, that sparked her drive to make it to the college level.

“It lights a fire under you,” Claire said. “You want to achieve that one day and go to school there. There’s only a small percentage of who gets to play a Division I sport, so it’s really a blessing.”

When Claire gets to Lawrence, she’ll be bringing with her a competitive spirit that she believes separates her from other pitchers. She wants to win every game, every inning, every pitch. That competitive nature is what will help her in her senior season, where she and the Eudora softball team are looking to win the state title after falling short the past two seasons.

“I think we can make this year special and prep for the next level,” Claire said. “Now that you’re committed, you are a college athlete now. You can’t sit back, you now have to put in twice the work because everyone’s as good as you.”

The proximity of KU to her home in Eudora was also big draw for Claire, who has a close relationship with her mom and her sister. Going to a school where those two can watch every home game was important. Claire has also built a large support group within the Eudora community, including other friends and teachers. With her commitment to KU, they too can watch her continue her softball career.