By 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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
Along with a new catcher, ECU will get two new full-time fans, Ken and Donna Sadler, Kendall’s parents, next season.
Sadler isn’t just happy to be a Pirate; she wants to be a Pirate who sees action.
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.
Sadler wouldn’t mind following in the footsteps of Jessup.
It would be another dream come true.