100 hits is no minor feat in only four seasons of playing for the Chamblee softball team, but Kate Sarago (‘25) managed to accomplish that and more throughout her high school and travel softball career while also dealing with demanding academics. Sarago (‘25) committed late last year to Purdue University for softball. She has played since the age of nine and has loved it since she started playing. Sarago plays for the Atlanta Vipers softball team and the Chamblee varsity team. She plays centerfield for both school and travel softball and bats first for the school team as well; she is a star athlete who is known for her love of the sport.
“[Sarago is] definitely a leader and an example for a lot of people. She’s a great teammate. She plays for the team and for herself,” said Stella Barton (‘26).
Sarago’s teammates consider her fun to be around and to play with, but she also takes the sport seriously.
“She’s just really fun to be around because she’s cracking jokes in the dugout, but then when she needs to focus up she can,” said Elena Smith (‘25).
Sarago is known for her hard work on and off the softball field and for always going the extra mile to help her teammates, even during the toughest games.
“She likes to build positivity around her and inspire people to do better. She is very competitive and wants to win and wants everybody to do well,” said Nathanial Berryman, Chamblee’s head varsity softball coach.
“Her energy to just be the best and play her best really seeps into other people on the team,” said Mackenzie Cassidy (‘24), one of the Chamblee softball captains for the 2023 season.
Not only does Sarago put work in during the softball season, but she also trains in the off-season and even manages to both play softball and run track in the spring.
Junior year of high school is a very important year for student athletes looking to commit to colleges for sports, and Sarago did not let the fall season go to waste. She officially committed to Purdue University on December 4th, 2024. Before committing to Purdue, the university’s coaches came to her softball tournaments, and Sarago flew to visit the college campus and facilities. Purdue offers many programs that Sarago is interested in pursuing.
“They have a program called Empower where student athletes have resources to connect to and have access to internships or jobs they’re interested in, and they have a 100% percent success rate for student athletes after college whether they’re in graduate school or have a job,” said Sarago.
Sarago is very grateful for all the support she has received throughout her committing process from her parents, her friends, and her travel team softball coach, Stacy Tamborra.
Sarago does warn that the committing process can be very stressful.
“It was awful and stressful. What they don’t tell you is that coaches will gaslight you, and they won’t be truthful. It’s all about money in the end,” said Sarago.
Sarago still has one year left of high school left before she goes to college, and she won’t let the next softball season go to waste.
“I would say she’s a captain of the team, and she’s a leader through example and through inspiring her teammates,” said Jack Phelps, the assistant coach of the Chamblee varsity team.
Sarago made the decision to commit to Purdue easily.
“I told the head coach that I wanted to commit to Purdue when she drove me to the airport. We were at a red light, and it was silent in the car. I told her ‘Thanks for everything that you guys have done for me. I’ve loved my visit, and I just want to tell you that I want to be a Boilermaker.’ She screamed, and she honked her horn four times at the red light. Everybody probably thought she was crazy. But how happy she was just showed how much [Purdue Softball] wanted me. That solidified the deal for me.”
