Behind the Mask, Front and Center: Sadie Huryn Shines for Issaquah Softball
Senior catcher’s leadership, talent, and humility leave lasting mark on Eagles program.
ISSAQUAH, Wash. – When it comes to the solitude of working in the shadows, being a catcher offers a unique opportunity to operate in an anonymity not typically afforded to softball players.
While involved in every pitch, the catcher is tucked between the batter and the umpire. Wearing the gear, working behind the mask, and leading a young Issaquah team with her calming veteran presence is where Sadie Huryn feels most comfortable.
So when she was placed firmly in the spotlight as the Eagles’ lone senior on Senior Night, the attention felt, as Huryn best described it, "strange."
"It's very strange to have a lot of people cheering for me outwardly," Huryn said. "But it was great having all the support. This is one of the most supportive and greatest teams. They pick me up on everything and are always supporting me and cheering me on. It's the greatest family ever.”
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, handmade signs celebrating Huryn were plastered across the purple-and-gold surfaces around the field. A celebratory barbecue was set up along the fence for after the game, while tennis matches played out in the background.
As the game started and Huryn took her spot behind home plate, someone shouted, and her teammates echoed, "That’s my favorite senior!"
When Huryn hit a rocket into the gap for an RBI double, her teammates shouted, "That’s our senior!"
Sure, the Eagles were happy to create a special moment for their lone senior, but the celebration was about more than just her grade level. Huryn’s leadership has been instrumental to the team’s 16-2 record. Drawing on lessons she learned from the upperclassmen she once looked up to, Huryn has now become that mentor for her teammates.
"I've always grown up with so many seniors," she said. "It feels weird to be alone in that, but it feels great to be so supported by all the underclassmen and all the juniors. I don't really mind, because I have a team with me – and that's all I need."
Huryn is more than just a leader: She’s also a statistical star, boasting the team’s highest batting average (.566) and on-base percentage (.606). She leads the team in hits (35), doubles (eight), and stolen bases (seven).
"Sadie is one of those rare student-athletes who just quietly does everything right," said coach Brie Baumann during her remarks to the Issaquah Rotary Club, which recently named Huryn its Student-Athlete of the Month. "She’s been a leader for us from the very beginning – earning Offensive MVP as a freshman, Team Captain as a sophomore, and then Team MVP as a junior – an honor that speaks volumes because it came from her teammates. She’s always led with grace, humility, and by example."
Huryn’s success on the field would be impressive on its own, but the Pomona College-bound senior also excels in the classroom (4.0 GPA) and as a musician (saxophone).
She first picked up a saxophone in fifth grade.
"It’s just a random thing I do," she said with a laugh.
When asked about her favorite songs to play, she led with George Michael’s "Careless Whisper" and said she’s always up for a John Williams soundtrack.
While she prefers softball over the saxophone, she joked, "Being able to play an instrument is a little flex."
Excelling both on and off the field, Huryn has left a lasting impression on the Issaquah community. To understand just how important she has been to her team, all anyone has to do is listen to the words Baumann shared at the end of her Issaquah Rotary Club speech:
"Sadie, you are the kind of student-athlete every coach hopes for – not just because you’re talented, but because of your character. You’ve made a lasting impact on this program and this school, and I truly mean it when I say you are the perfect representative of Issaquah High School. We’re going to miss you so much, but we couldn’t be more excited to see what’s next."
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