2022 Texas Softball retires Cat Osterman No. 8

AUSTIN, Texas — The first player in Texas Softball program's history to have their number retired, Cat Osterman #8 is most deserving of the honor for what she accomplished while at Texas and throughout her career. Cat was born Catherine Leigh Osterman at April 16, 1983. In Texas first class fashion, they give her the most fitting of birthday presents, plus Texas handed Oklahoma their first loss of the season, plus Osterman called the game, plus threw out the ceremonial first pitch caught by here former teammate and catcher Megan Willis.

Osterman is a three-time Olympic medalist; one gold (as the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Softball Team) in 2004 in Athens, a silver in 2008 at Beijing, and most recently a silver in 2020 at Tokyo where Osterman came out of retirement to help Team USA win.

While at Texas, Osterman was a three-time National Player of the Year, three-time USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American, and two-time ESPY Award winner for Best Female College Athletic. Her record was 136-25 with a 0.51 ERA and 2,265 strikeouts while helping Texas appear in three Women's College World Series.

Osterman is still the only player in NCAA D1 history to lead the nation in ERA, plus threw 20 no-hitters and seven perfect games.

Texas Softball head coach Mike White said, "Cat helped to elevate our softball program to national prominence during her career on the Forty Acres. It is so exciting to have her number "8" immortalized into Texas Softball history and to honor her contribution to the growth of collegiate softball not only in the U.S., but also throughout the world."

Osterman was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft and played pro for eight year for the Rockford Thunder and USSSA Pride. Osterman was named All-NPF six times and NPF's Pitcher of the Year in 2011, 2013, and 2014.

Congratulations Cat Osterman and thank you for giving everything you had to Texas and the world.

#HookEm