Almost 20 years after graduating, Meggie Meidlinger returned to Titan Baseball’s homefield to receive USA Baseball’s prestigious Sportswoman of the Year award. Meidlinger made history as the first girl to tryout for Dominion’s baseball team and threw her first no-hitter versus Briar Woods, in 2006.
Dominion High School and Titan Baseball welcomed back Meggie, on Monday May 19th to take part in USA Baseball’s presentation. “We’re happy she picked Dominion to get this award. She could have done it anywhere she wanted, and she picked here to come back,” head coach Jeff Berg said.
Titan Baseball designed and wore shirts with Meidlinger’s number to wear while she walked out. Once Meggie Meidlinger walked on the field and received USA Baseball’s award, she threw the first pitch of the game, with her dad being the catcher. “I feel incredibly honored to be awarded this by USA Baseball. All the predecessors before me are incredible baseball players, and I feel very honored to be put in the same pool with those players, it’s a great accomplishment,” Meggie Meidlinger said.
Before Meggie’s time at Dominion, she spent her freshman year at Potomac Falls and played on the JV baseball team there. Coach Jay Raines and Coach Porter coached Meggie all the way through high school. “To get to come back here, if it weren’t for those opportunities it wouldn’t have led me to USA Baseball and so I am forever grateful for the coaches,” Meidlinger said.
Along with being a current member of USA Baseball, Meidlinger coaches MLB programs for middle and high school aged girls, an opportunity that wasn’t available when she was that age. “There is a professional league coming out next season, which is really cool, just a childhood dream come true that there is a professional women’s baseball team.”
Meggie’s relationship with her team was crucial towards her career at Dominion. “What was nice is that the guys didn’t treat her any differently and she felt that love and respect through her whole time” Berg said. Meggie has been playing baseball since she was a kid, and started with Loudoun Little League. “All the guys I played high school baseball with always had my back, and supported me. They have been in my corner since day one, all the way since Little League” Meidlinger explained.
Meggie’s parents were there to support her Monday night when she received her award. Meidlinger’s parents provided crucial support towards Meggie’s baseball journey. “We would measure off 60 feet, 6 inches, the driveway had just enough slope to it that you put a home plate on the other side of the street so she would practice hitting her strikes on from out of our driveway,” Rick Meidlinger, Meggie’s father, explained.
When not on the diamond, Meidlinger works a 9-to-5 job as a sports architect with the company HKS.
“If I were to give any advice, enjoy the training process. Dominion opened their gates for me to continue to train here and have those plain opportunities. I just always take it one year at a time, continue to play the game and have fun. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of Dominion in their first few years, it’s just an incredible group and I couldn’t be more thankful,” Meidlinger said.
