How Meadow Sacadura found her place at Robert Morris

Every high-school athlete has one dream, to go to the next level and play on the biggest stage–a power-five school. That dream was the same for Robert Morris’ redshirt-freshman catcher Meadow Sacadura.

The Mechanicsville, Maryland native spent her true freshman season at the University of Maryland. After not seeing any action, she quickly noticed that the power-five environment was much different than anticipated.

“Maryland is a power five school, but when I look back now, it’s not all about being power five,” Sacadura said. “When here at a mid-major, I have more opportunities with playing time and in school. I feel like, at a mid-major, they care about you a little more; as a power five, you may be just a number on the team.”

Joining a smaller, mid-major school like Robert Morris was a culture shock for her, but the team and coaching staff have welcomed her with open arms. Back in the fall, she and her teammates knew this team was special.

“As soon as I committed, everyone was super welcoming and the coaches have been great. It’s like a family here,” she said. “Ever since the fall, I knew we were going to be super good. I wouldn’t expect anything less of us. All of us are super competitive. Last year was their statement season and we want to come back [this season] to make a bigger deal and show these teams we are here to play.”

The redshirt freshman did not see action as a Terrapin as she nursed a hip injury. She says that redshirting was an easy decision just halfway through the year. However, Sacadura learned a lot in College Park to compete at a level like the Horizon League.

She learned about working hard and committing to the culture at one’s school, which she says helped her adapt to a new environment like Robert Morris.

Robert Morris’ head coach Jexx Varner reached out to her and their relationship has blossomed.

“Coach Jexx is awesome. At my other school, the coaches didn’t have a personal relationship, but if I needed anything, Coach Jexx is always there and is super helpful to everybody. He’s making sure we are doing well in school and softball.”

Varner spoke praise for the catcher after her hot start back in February in an interview with Colonial Sports Network.

“Meadow has been great behind the plate,” Varner said. “I think [over the season] people will start to realize how good of a receiver and how good of a catcher she is.”

Sacadura’s start to softball was back to playing T-ball as a four and five-year-old but did not grow into being a catcher until age 10.

“Once I became catcher, I never really have looked back. I really like catching a lot because I can be the leader,” she said. “I can see the entire field and I have to always be in the game and always getting the ball.”

In her first year in Moon, she has been the most animated on the field and the dugout and is the team’s unofficial ‘hype woman’. She told Colonial Sports Network that her energy is nothing new.

“Since I was about 14, my height normally doesn’t stick out, or my power. So one of the things that stick out for me is being loud or getting the team going with energy.”

There are some high expectations for the roster this season. Starting 9-1 this season, the team’s goal is to keep on winning and make it to regionals.

“[We’re] hoping we can win the rest of our series if not sweep. Then into the conference [tournament], all of us are super competitive, so we think we are going to be a really high seed.”

Sacadura is doing her best to fuel that path to regionals, currently sitting fourth on the team in batting average, batting .300 (15-for-50) with 4 RBI.

She is excelling on the defensive side as well, recording 12 assists and has thrown out a whopping 8 runners attempting to steal.

Sacadura and the Colonials are currently third in the Horizon League and hoping for a run in the Horizon League Tournament come mid-May and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.