Savannah "Savvy" Spittler Signs with Syracuse Softball

SYRACUSE, N.Y – An inspiration to family, friends and peers, nine-year old Savannah "Savvy" Spittler officially joined the Syracuse softball family Tuesday morning.

Partnering with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, The Orange held a letter of intent signing ceremony Tuesday at Manley Field House. Savvy's parents, Ray and Melanie, as well as her four younger siblings (Austin – 7, Aiden – 4, Brianna – 3 and Liam – 2), her teacher and two friends were all in attendance to see her join the program.

Savvy was adopted by the Orange on January 25, while in remission from childhood kidney cancer. Originally, a Wilms' Tumor was detected on Savvy's right kidney in November 2017, and after six months of radiation and chemotherapy, the tumor had disappeared and Savvy was completely healthy. Unfortunately, the day after being adopted to the Orange, it was discovered that the cancer had returned to her right side, and she will have surgery on Wednesday with hopes of removing the tumor.

"It's a high honor for someone like my daughter who is going through a battle right now," said Savvy's mother, Melanie. "She doesn't let it define her and for that reason she's my hero."

"She's the light of the room," her father added. "She brings everybody joy and that's what's amazing about her. No matter what's going on with her it's always a smile, it's always happy and it teaches us something new everyday."

When feeling up to it, Savvy has stopped by to visit with the players and coaches. Savvy's father, Ray, has also been passing along positive messages and words of encouragement from Savvy to the coaches, such as "Fight like a girl!" and "you rock!". The players pay tribute to Savvy with purple and yellow ribbons on their gloves and in their hair on game days.

Back in the fall, junior Gabby Teran presented the idea to join the Team Impact initiative, along with the Syracuse women's soccer and women's lacrosse programs, to head coach Shannon Doepking.

"It's awesome to have someone like her," said junior Gabby Teran when asked what it was like to have Savvy as a part of the team. "She always comes in here with a lot of energy, no matter what day she's having, she always has a smile on her face."

Syracuse University Athletics

Savannah "Savvy" Spittler Signs with Syracuse Softball

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