July 16, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (ucfathletics.com) - Allison Kime's summer internship is one that most college students only dream of. UCF softball's pitching-ace is spending her days promoting the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an intern in their marketing department.
Kime, a marketing major at UCF, travels around central Florida to radio and television events in the `Devil Ray Hummer,' and she hands out Devil Ray memorabilia to promote the organization, as well as informing fans of any promotions that they have planned for game day.
"A lot of people do not know who the Devil Rays are," said Kime. "My job is to get out in the community and establish a fan-base in the central Florida area for the team."
The hours that Kime works a week vary depending on the Devil Rays schedule, but a normal week has her putting in about 12-13 hours. But at times, one event may even run as long as eight hours.
The Brandon, Fla., native spent last summer with the club as well, working in the community relations department where she had the opportunity to meet numerous players from the organization.
"I met a few of the players last summer," said Kime. "But I haven't had the chance to meet any yet this year."
Kime seems to be more than excelling in getting people out to the field. On July 15, the Devil Rays entertained a sellout-crowd of 36,048 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, despite losing to the New York Yankees, 7-6. Look for Kime promoting Throwback Tuesday presented by St. Petersburg Times when Tampa Bay hosts the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on July 17.
The hurler will enter her senior season with the Knights this spring.
Last season, Kime ended her junior year ranked fourth in the nation in earned run average (0.87) and set new UCF career records in strikeouts (488), strikeouts per seven innings (6.93), ERA (1.22), complete games (60), shutouts (20), innings pitched (493.0) and batters struck out looking (116). She also set single-season records in strikeouts (266), ERA (0.87), opposing batting average (.159) and shutouts (15) in 2007.
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