Osterman returns, but Softball takes the night
Feb. 12, 2010 Natalie England, TexasSports.com AUSTIN, Texas -- Cat Osterman returned to the diamond at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Friday, only she wasn't in the pitcher's circle or wearing burnt orange. Now the pitching coach for DePaul, Osterman wore the Demons' blue, and coached the offense from beside first base. That position was actually poignant, because some 100 feet in her shadow, on the right field wall, hangs the sign commemorating UT's four trips to the NCAA Women's College World Series. Osterman, of course, was the arm behind three of them. "I'm excited to be back. It's a little different, coaching against the Longhorns, because I'm a proud Longhorn through and through," said Osterman, who was named the USA Softball National Player of the Year an unprecedented three times. Osterman was a big part in building the proud softball tradition that the Longhorns enjoy today. They've made five-straight trips to an NCAA Regional under head coach Connie Clark, and are just four years removed from their last CWS appearance. "One step away," Osterman says of her alma mater. This year's edition of the Longhorns features a tight-knit blend of proven winners and promising potential. That all showed throughout UT's season-opening 3-1 victory against DePaul, and carried into Blaire Luna's following eight-inning, no-hit gem against North Carolina. Junior catcher Amy Hooks, who gives the Longhorns a prideful and consistent voice of wisdom, logged the first hit of the season with her towering double to straightaway center field in the bottom of the third. Hooks then scored the season's first run, when freshman Taylor Hoagland smartly slapped a two-out single inside the first base bag.
And behind the steady complete game performance from another freshman, Kim Bruins, that was all UT needed to get past DePaul. The Longhorns didn't see it as defeating Osterman, but honoring her. "She laid a great foundation for this program, and I hope the team can keep going with it and add to the tradition," Hooks said. Osterman helped the Longhorns build that tradition while she was also building an impressive personal legacy. As a three-time national player of the year, and the youngest member of the USA Olympic team to win a gold medal in 2004, Osterman is arguably one of the greatest student-athletes to ever wear burnt orange. While setting virtually every UT pitching record, Osterman also stands second in NCAA history with 85 shutouts, and her 136 career victories rank her fifth all-time. She's the NCAA record holder for strikeout ratio. Osterman's return to McCombs Field, even in opposing colors, allowed everyone to once again appreciate the impact she made on the Longhorns and pitching in general. "Cat's done some great things," Connie Clark said. "I'm also excited for our fans. I think it's going to be really fun for them to see Cat sitting in one dugout and the Texas staff sitting in the other. She's done some great things for this program." The looming question coming into the night, Hooks said, was whether Osterman would join the Longhorns in the traditional postgame singing of "The Eyes of Texas." Osterman said beforehand that she wouldn't hold her Horns up, but allowed, "I can sing it." Mere scheduling saved Osterman from having to make a decision. Since the game was just the first of two on the night for the Longhorns, they didn't sing after defeating DePaul. And now everyone awaits Osterman's next return. "I've never hidden the fact that I would love to coach at Texas. I would love the opportunity. I would love to be back here," Osterman said. "Austin is home." |
|
