Butler County retires number of former EHS softball standout
By Jesse Newell
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Robyn Sadowski laughs about it now. After all, it was only a joke.
The result of that joke now hangs in Sadowski’s home in Emporia — in fact, it’s one of the first things you see after you walk in the living room.
A framed Butler County softball jersey. No. 22. Never to be worn again at the school. The number retired forever.
It’s funny what was accomplished when the Emporia High product took the joke seriously.
“This was unimaginable,” Sadowski said. “I never thought this would happen to me.”
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Butler County Community College softball coach Doug Chance started the talk midway through the season.
He knew Sadowski had an opportunity to accomplish great things. He decided to add one more to the list.
“I told her if she continued this level,” Chance said, “she was probably going to make first-team All-American.”
And if she did, the coach said, he would retire her jersey.
The running joke began. Butler hadll-American in softball. It had never had a number retired.
Then again, it had never had a player quite like Sadowski.
The catcher continued to put up numbers — big numbers — with the Grizzlies.
By the time she had finished, the statistics spoke for themselves. Sadowski ended the year with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs, good for third in the nation in both categories. Both marks also set school records.
She also completed her season with a .439 average.
Still, there were questions whether she would achieve the All-American honor. Most that receive the award are those who attend nationals, and Butler had been eliminated at the regional level.
Time passed, and finally the list was posted.
Sadowski was a unanimous selection.
She immediately put in a call to her coach, who had not yet heard the news.
He paused only for a second.
“Well,” he told her, “I guess we’re going to have to start planning this retirement then, aren’t we?”
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Chance almost needed a shopping cart to get all of Sadowski’s awards to her last Saturday.
On the day when all Butler softball players reported, the coach honored his best player. She was given her NFCA All-American trophy and certificates for both All-American and All-Region awards.
She then was presented with the greatest award of them all. She was given her framed jersey — No. 22 — which was retired that day in a ceremony at the field.
“The whole retiring my jersey was a joke to start with, and then I actually did accomplish what he said the terms were,” Sadowski said. “It was kind of meaningful that we had to do it.”
It was also meaningful after her abilities had been questioned by some.
Sadowski was originally interested in playing for Emporia State but never received much interest from the school in her own hometown.
“I actually wanted to go there quite a bit when I was in high school,” Sadowski said, “but I never really got looked at.”
Her junior-college route turned out just as well. She is now attending UMKC, signing with the school early last year after receiving other Division I offers from Creighton, Tulsa and others.
“I passed up a lot of opportunities to go to other D-I’s, but I thought that this would be the best fit for me, for my education,” Sadowski said. “I love softball, and now it’s paying me back.”
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The joke continues on today.
Chance tells Sadowski that her No. 22 is not totally safe — that it might be worn again by another player.
“It’s kind of a joke with her, because I know it’s not going to happen,” Chance said, “but I told her the only way we’ll unretire that jersey is if somebody matches or beats her numbers as a freshman.”
Sadowski just laughs about it. Another joke from her coach, but this one she isn’t taking so seriously.
“I think it will be pretty hard for a freshman to come in and accomplish all the goals I did as a sophomore,” Sadowski said, “but if they can do it, then I guess they can wear it.”
Chance said he had no reservations giving Sadowski the honor. His players now have 98 numbers from which to choose.
No. 22, however, should be safe.
“The chances of somebody wanting No. 22 and being that good narrows it down quite a bit,” Chance said. “I don’t think anybody will ever wear that jersey again.”
Instead, it will remain hanging prominently in Sadowski’s living room.
The joke that never was one — and also the greatest achievement of her career.
“It’s No. 1 right now,” Sadowski said. “Not that there won’t be higher accomplishments later, but this is a big one to achieve.”