FEW ATHLETES ever seemed more in control of their surroundings than Cat Osterman did in the pitching circle. She’ll exit the circle the same way, at the time of her choosing.
Osterman intends to retire at the conclusion of the National Pro Fastpitch season with the Florida- based USSSA Pride. “When I first joined …[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
the national team, I always thought 2012 would be it,” Osterman said. “With [softball] getting voted out of the Olympics and the NPF being a continuing option, I stuck around. But as much as I love the game, my heart’s not in it to keep playing past this summer.”
A two-time Olympian, two-time world champion and the only three- time national college player of the year, Osterman is considered one of the great- est pitchers in softball history. She led Texas — which started its varsity softball program five years prior to her arrival — to three appearances in the Women’s College World Series. The Longhorns twice fell one win shy of the champion- ship round.
Osterman remains the NCAA record holder for strikeout rate by a comfortable margin. She’s the only pitcher to average two strikeouts per inning for an entire college career, totaling 2,265 strikeouts in 1,105 2/3 innings. Currently an assistant coach at St. Edward’s, Osterman is unlikely to leave softball entirely behind. “I enjoy going back and seeing other athletes fall in love with the game,” she said. “I’ll always remain part of it. Coaching is going to be my extended future. I can’t see myself giving that up.”
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