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Sadler commits to ECU softball
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE -- When asked if she had yet envisioned herself in a Pirate uniform, Kendall Sadler’s blue eyes lit up and a huge smile formed on her face.
“Yeah, kind of,” she said while looking out over the ECU softball field. “It’s always been a dream. I love that purple and gold.”
Sadler, a former standout at Southside High School who was named the Washington Daily News‘ All-Area First Team catcher in 2005, committed to joining the East Carolina University softball team. The Pirates, 40-20 overall and 14-9 in Conference USA play, advanced to the C-USA Tournament championship game last year.
“I went to camps here when I was younger,” she said. “I’ve seen them play since they’re close to home. I just love ECU and I love the coach (Tracey Kee). She’s all about winning.
“Ever since I’ve been little, it’s pretty much been a dream of mine to come here.”
The catcher is coming off two successful seasons at Louisburg College, where she helped lead the Hurricanes to consecutive trips to nationals.
She hit .412, had 56 hits and 30 RBIs -- all second best on the team -- along with three home runs in 44 games in her sophomore season .
“I improved on the field and in my hitting (my sophomore year), which is a major thing,” Sadler said. “If you don’t hit, you’re not going to be playing. That really helped me out and it helped get me here because coach Kee doesn’t want anybody that can’t hit.”
Along the way, Sadler racked up some serious honors. She was named as a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American, while also being named to the First Team All-Region and Region X All-Tournament teams.
“I was so excited (to be named All-American),” Sadler said. “That made me feel like I was one of the best in the nation because only the best get that honor.”
Sadler, who will study physical education with the hopes of being a teacher and a coach in the future, is ready for the challenge of switching from junior college to Division I softball.
“I’m excited,” she said. “Everybody on the field is going to be a tough player. Everybody is going to be trying to beat everybody out (for a starting position) and that’s what I want. I want competition.”
Along with a new catcher, ECU will get two new full-time fans, Ken and Donna Sadler, Kendall’s parents, next season.
“They haven’t missed a game in pretty much my whole softball career,” Sadler said. “In high school and college, neither one has missed a single game. They’re always going to be there to support me.”
Sadler isn’t just happy to be a Pirate; she wants to be a Pirate who sees action.
“I want to play in a lot of games,” she said. “I want to help out the team in any way I can.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches say that I was a coachable player, meaning that I’ll listen to whatever they have to say and I’ll do whatever they say. I’m always cheering everybody on and I try to get the team hyped. When you’re on the field, you have to play 110 percent and not let your team down.”
Sadler credited some former coaches, including Southside’s John Lohman and Carolina Diamonds’ travel ball coaches Brian Bailey and Eddie Thornton, with her success at and behind the plate.
With Joyce Roodenburg graduating, Sadler will be competing with Vanessa Moreno and Tiffany Shaw, among others, for the catcher’s position.
Sadler said she somewhat models her game after a pair of former ECU catchers in Krista Jessup, who is now playing professionally with the Chicago Bandits, and Addie Chlebnikow.
“Everybody says I have a gun for an arm,” Sadler said. “On defense I’m pretty good at calling pitches. In (Division 1) I know it’s a little different because (coaches) like to call the pitches. If somebody tries to steal, I’m pretty good at getting that person out and making plays.”
Sadler wouldn’t mind following in the footsteps of Jessup.
“I would love to do that,” Sadler said. “I would love to play professionally. That would be sweet.”
It would be another dream come true.
“Yeah, kind of,” she said while looking out over the ECU softball field. “It’s always been a dream. I love that purple and gold.”
Sadler, a former standout at Southside High School who was named the Washington Daily News‘ All-Area First Team catcher in 2005, committed to joining the East Carolina University softball team. The Pirates, 40-20 overall and 14-9 in Conference USA play, advanced to the C-USA Tournament championship game last year.
“I went to camps here when I was younger,” she said. “I’ve seen them play since they’re close to home. I just love ECU and I love the coach (Tracey Kee). She’s all about winning.
“Ever since I’ve been little, it’s pretty much been a dream of mine to come here.”
The catcher is coming off two successful seasons at Louisburg College, where she helped lead the Hurricanes to consecutive trips to nationals.
She hit .412, had 56 hits and 30 RBIs -- all second best on the team -- along with three home runs in 44 games in her sophomore season .
“I improved on the field and in my hitting (my sophomore year), which is a major thing,” Sadler said. “If you don’t hit, you’re not going to be playing. That really helped me out and it helped get me here because coach Kee doesn’t want anybody that can’t hit.”
Along the way, Sadler racked up some serious honors. She was named as a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American, while also being named to the First Team All-Region and Region X All-Tournament teams.
“I was so excited (to be named All-American),” Sadler said. “That made me feel like I was one of the best in the nation because only the best get that honor.”
Sadler, who will study physical education with the hopes of being a teacher and a coach in the future, is ready for the challenge of switching from junior college to Division I softball.
“I’m excited,” she said. “Everybody on the field is going to be a tough player. Everybody is going to be trying to beat everybody out (for a starting position) and that’s what I want. I want competition.”
Along with a new catcher, ECU will get two new full-time fans, Ken and Donna Sadler, Kendall’s parents, next season.
“They haven’t missed a game in pretty much my whole softball career,” Sadler said. “In high school and college, neither one has missed a single game. They’re always going to be there to support me.”
Sadler isn’t just happy to be a Pirate; she wants to be a Pirate who sees action.
“I want to play in a lot of games,” she said. “I want to help out the team in any way I can.
“I’ve had a lot of coaches say that I was a coachable player, meaning that I’ll listen to whatever they have to say and I’ll do whatever they say. I’m always cheering everybody on and I try to get the team hyped. When you’re on the field, you have to play 110 percent and not let your team down.”
Sadler credited some former coaches, including Southside’s John Lohman and Carolina Diamonds’ travel ball coaches Brian Bailey and Eddie Thornton, with her success at and behind the plate.
With Joyce Roodenburg graduating, Sadler will be competing with Vanessa Moreno and Tiffany Shaw, among others, for the catcher’s position.
Sadler said she somewhat models her game after a pair of former ECU catchers in Krista Jessup, who is now playing professionally with the Chicago Bandits, and Addie Chlebnikow.
“Everybody says I have a gun for an arm,” Sadler said. “On defense I’m pretty good at calling pitches. In (Division 1) I know it’s a little different because (coaches) like to call the pitches. If somebody tries to steal, I’m pretty good at getting that person out and making plays.”
Sadler wouldn’t mind following in the footsteps of Jessup.
“I would love to do that,” Sadler said. “I would love to play professionally. That would be sweet.”
It would be another dream come true.
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