Mrs. President

Sometimes life brings us full circle.
For Ville Platte Girls’ Softball Association President and 6U All-Star head coach Sadie Figueiredo that circle has brought her to a place that was once part of her childhood and a position she always knew she wanted to try.
“Coaching had always been in the back of my mind,” stated Figueiredo. “Growing up, it was something I always thought about doing. So, when I had our girl, I said to myself ‘I bet I could do a good job coaching.’ And, the league always needed coaches. So it was great. I got to do what I’ve always wanted to do and be around my daughter at the same time.”
The presidency part of her involvement in the league began this season. After serving as a vice-president last year under David LaHaye, Figueiredo took the reins when LaHaye stepped down.
Half-jokingly, Figueiredo said her entrance into the top spot in the league was a matter of no one else wanting to take over the duties.
“I did not even know I was a candidate for the position,” Figueiredo said laughingly. “We were at a board meeting and David (LaHaye) told us he was not going to be the president anymore. After he said that we needed someone else to take over, everyone just turned and looked at me.”
“Honestly, I wasn’t excited at the prospect of being president, but, because I love the sport so much and because I wanted this league to continue in the right direction, I knew I had to step up and take the job,” Figueiredo continued. “I will tell you this, David was a huge help to me. Because of the work he did before me, it has made my job a whole lot easier.”
Just looking at the job she has done so far, one does not really believe that the board just randomly picked Figueiredo to take over the job. Her passion for the game and the love of the kids who play in the league is very evident.
Like most coaches who come forward to volunteer in the youth leagues, Figueiredo spent her childhood playing softball in the Ville Platte recreational softball program. Back then, the game was a little different than the one she coaches now.
“When I was in the league, we played T-Ball to start,” said Figueiredo. “Then when you moved up, the game became a slow pitch game. So when you were 7, 8 and 9, the players actually pitched. When we were 10, we began fast pitch.”
After playing league ball, Figueiredo took her talent to the high school diamond, playing for Sacred Heart. As a sophomore, Figueiredo and the Lady Trojans brought home a state championship, beating Port Barre 1-0.
Figueiredo looks upon her time on the field of play as a time of profound joy and learning; things she hopes that her daughter Emry will come away with during her playing days.
“I have loved softball since the day I began playing,” commented Figueiredo. “I just really want Emry to get all the things out of playing this sport that I did. The bonds that are formed, the lessons about life that playing a sport teaches you, and satisfaction of being a part of a team are things that you will always have when you play a sport like softball.”
Figueiredo takes those lessons and experiences and puts them to great use in her full time job as a speech pathologist. After graduating from Sacred Heart, Figueiredo received her undergraduate and graduate degree from ULL and set off on her career. Currently, she is a contract worker for the Therapy Center, working in nursing homes with the elderly.
“I love kids, but there is something special about working with the elderly,” stated Figueiredo. “I enjoy hearing about their life experiences. They are so passionate about life. It makes you feel hopeful about getting older.”
However satisfying it is to work with the older generations, Figueiredo will always be a coach at heart, giving back to the sport and the league that helped shape the person she is.
“Coaching is like my oasis away from the everyday stresses of life,” said Figuieredo. “It is fun to come out here and teach these girls the game. It is challenging at times, but it is so rewarding. I want to continue doing it until I can’t anymore.”