[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CAT OSTERMAN--A TEXAS SOFTBALL LEGEND

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to recognize a 
talented Texas woman, Catherine ``Cat'' Osterman, a fast pitch softball 
legend. Born in Houston, Cat discovered at an early age that she wanted 
to be a pitcher. There was no denying that she was a natural athlete, 
but it wasn't until the day that she filled in as a back-up pitcher for 
her Little League softball team that sparked the fire making her so 
successful in her sport.
  Since that first taste of pitching, Cat's love for the game 
blossomed. Through her hard work and determination, she became a star 
on her high school's softball team. Her pitching is incredible: she has 
mastered six pitches, and she reserves her most famous pitch, the fast 
pitch, for critical moments on the field.
  She graduated from Cypress Springs High School where she earned the 
Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year Award as well as her now 
famous nickname ``Cat.'' She went on to play softball for the Longhorns 
at the University of Texas at Austin when the softball team was only 5 
years old. During Cat's time in Austin, she broke every softball record 
at the University of Texas.
  Cat's talent and passion for the game took her and her team to 3 
Women's College World Series. She remains the only person to have ever 
won the national college player of the year 3 times. Because of her 
incredible talent and statistics, Cat was asked to play for Team USA in 
the 2004 Olympics in Athens. At only 21 years of age, Cat became an 
Olympic gold medalist, having pitched nearly 15 innings without 
allowing a run. Athens was not Cat's only Olympic experience; she 
returned to the Olympic Games 4 years later in Beijing, once more 
pitching for the United States national softball team.
  After the Olympics, Cat's career in softball continued to be 
successful. She played for Team USA, winning 2 world championships, and 
she was the first draft pick for Connecticut Brakettes in the National 
Pro Fastpitch softball league.
  This April, Cat announced that she will be retiring from pitching. 
But you can't keep her away from the game that she loves. Her passion 
for the game has driven her all these years, and passion like that 
doesn't just die. Cat's passion is leading her to coach softball for 
St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, and to help others to become 
passionate about the game themselves. People like Cat Osterman, who 
dedicate their lives to what they are passionate about, are the reason 
why this country remains great.
  And that's just the way it is.

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