Meghan Schrade, in purple, poses with her Williams College teammates.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady -- without even knowing it -- has some competition on Friday.

 

Nine-year-old Meghan Schrade of North Adams will be throwing the first pitch at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox versus the Houston Astros.

 

When talking over this opportunity at dinner the other night, Meghan’s mother, Tracy Bassette, said that Meghan looked at her father and said, “Papa, I’m going to pitch better than Tom Brady did!”

 

Brady threw the first pitch out back in April in the Red Sox home opener.

 

This young girl's confidence is a reflection of the Williams College softball team and the impact it has made on her life. Meghan was drafted to the team three years ago through Team Impact, an organization whose motto is to, “Improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team.”

 

Team Impact has drafted 697 kids to 305 schools in 43 states since 2011 when the organization was created.

 

Meghan was born with a complex heart condition called transposition of the arteries and underwent her first open-heart surgery at just 6 days old. During her operation, she went into 100 percent heart block, resulting in the permanent need for a pacemaker. 

 

She has since gone through numerous surgeries and procedures and is currently living with her third pacemaker. Meghan’s case is rare, her mother said.

 

“She has never regained any underlying heart rhythm and will continue to upgrade her pacemaker as she grows,” she said.

 

Meghan was the fourth draftee to be drafted to Williams College, making the softball team the fourth at the school to have a Team Impact player.

 

This past season, the Williams College softball team made it to the NCAA tournament, losing 4-0 to WPI in the Regional Final. Meghan was with her teammates throughout the whole season and their tournament run.

 

“She comes to all the games and she has a jersey and sits in the dugout,” Williams head coach Kris Herman said. “She really acts like a player and that’s important for her. She cheers and does what she needs to do, but also just her presence is an inspiration.”

 

Team Impact’s goal is to create a bond between a team and a child "who, as a result of their diagnosis could benefit from a boost to improve their quality of life both socially and psychologically," according to the nonprofit's website.

 

Meghan will enter her fourth season next spring with the senior class, and her mother said the effect of the program to their family is one that goes far beyond the field and the locker room.

 

“We are making lifelong friendships,” she said. “Our contact with the coaches, the girls and their families, does not end when the equipment is put in storage. Perfect example is the weekly training sessions Meg had with coach and the girls to prepare her for the first pitch this Friday.”

 

The Williams softball team not only has spent time on the field with Meghan, but they continuously are texting, calling and Facetiming with her. They take her to dinner as well as other adventures. Her mother said that one of the girl's families they became quite close with took her to a Red Sox-Yankees game.

 

The bond has her mother at a loss for the perfect sentiment to describe it.

 

“It is honestly difficult to put into words exactly what Team Impact has done for Meghan," she said. "I guess I would instead encourage folks to attend a Williams softball, baseball, soccer or hockey game and watch the bond between our little ones and their big 'brothers and sisters.'

 

“They truly are accepted in these settings and all disabilities, illnesses or obstacles are forgotten as they live beyond their limits, beyond their diagnoses.”

 

Not only has Meghan’s life been impacted with this experience, but the Williams softball players have learned from her as well. Herman explained that her players have been inspired by the challenges she has faced and they have realized the Meghan is a reminder to them all how fortunate they are to be able to play the game.

 

Meghan’s mother said her daughter is not the slightest bit nervous to throw out the first pitch Friday evening.

 

“I’m not sure she realizes the magnitude of what she gets to experience,” she said. “That makes it even better, because we will get to capture in picture and video that special moment.”

 

Meghan and Herman will also be appearing on NESN’s pregame show with anchor Tom Caron at 5:50 p.m. Friday evening prior to the first pitch ceremonies.

 

"When the folks at Williams told me that Meghan was coming to Fenway, we immediately knew we wanted to get her on the pre-game show," Caron said. "Team Impact is such a great program; I’ve seen how student-athletes can help lift kids spirits. Just as importantly, the kids bring an amazing amount of life and energy to the college teams they pair up with.

 

"These are the kind of stories I love sharing with New England, and we’re really looking to sharing Meghan’s story with our viewers."

 

Herman was the one who relayed the message to Meghan and her mother that she would be throwing out the first pitch.

 

“It wasn’t the jump up and down excitement at first, at first it was like, ‘Wow we are really lucky’, which is just so great to see: a kid who you would think isn’t that lucky because of the challenges she’s had, but she really appreciates her good fortune and she’s excited to do it," Herman said.

 

Meghan will be wearing her Williams College jersey on the mound Friday evening; she was unsure whether she wanted to wear that or her Red Sox jersey, but she has chosen to represent the Ephs. She is more than prepared - and ready to throw the first pitch better than Tom Brady.