Small Talk: Cat Osterman

Cat signing autographs after Saturday Nights game

     Cat Osterman needs no introduction, instead of me listing all of her awards, achievements, and awards allow me just to sum Cat up like this. Cat is softball, she's been everywhere and done everything there is to be done in softball. Along with Monica Abbott she is the most noticeable name and face in softball. Kids and adults alike go to ballparks to watch Cat Osterman! I'm just honored to be able to catch up with her and get to chat. Cat sustained a season ending injury last year in the NPF Championship Series and has had to spend her offseason recovering and preparing to play at the highest level again.

What was your motivation through your injury to get back on the field at the same level of play you've had in your career?

Well you never want to end a career on an injury, it wasn't career threatening so it was pretty easy to get it taken care of and I just wanted to get back on the field. Patience is the hard part.

Were you where you wanted to be physically to start the season?

Yeah. I was a lot further along than we thought I was going to be when the season started. That was part rehab, part throwing as much as I could while coaching. Important part is when I got to Florida I was able to throw to throw a lot.

You're doing a great job this year, leading the league with a 0.75 ERA, how do you stay motivated to not get complacent and just be happy with being as good as you have been?

It's my job to not let them score and keep us in the game. I'm just a competitor, I dont want anyone to hit, that's just the way I've always been. I think the biggest thing this year is making pitches that get outs instead of strikeouts. I've obviously been a strikeout pitcher my whole career but I've been in the league 6 years now, its no secret what I throw, I just got to be more effective in getting outs. I dont need any extra motivation, anytime I'm in the circle I'm going to do the job.

It's obvious you're a face of not only the NPF but softball as a whole; how do you feel about that and how do you approach it?

I think if I have it now it's by default because Jennie retired, she did a great job before us being the face of softball, putting us on the map. The media obviously loves her for every right reason, so I think she just did a great job. Now I just try to come behind and try to keep this sport alive, keep doing my job, doing our job. As far as the league goes we just try to garner as much attention as we can and bring in the crowds wherever we go. I'm fortunate we get to go to Texas at least once a year usually, it's not hard to draw people there because thats my home state and where I've played most of my career. I dont feel any extra pressure or anything. If you ask me I'm not the face of the NPF, I just kind of do my job.

Follow Cat on Twitter @catosterman

www.catosterman.com

@hofhuddle