| Cat Osterman | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Osterman in 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| USSSA Pride – No. 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1983-04-16)April 16, 1983 (age 42) Houston, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPF debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| May 29, 2007, for the Rockford Thunder | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Last NPF appearance | |||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17, 2015, for the USSSA Pride | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NPF statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 95–24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 0.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,260 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Saves | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Catherine Leigh Osterman (born April 16, 1983) is an American formersoftball player and currently the general manager of the Volts for the inaugural 2025 season of theAthletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Osterman pitched on theUnited States women's national softball team that won the gold medal at the2004 Summer Olympics and silver medal at the2008 and2020 Summer Olympics.
She was a collegiate four-timeAll-American and six-time professional All-Star. She completed her college eligibility in 2006 at theUniversity of Texas at Austin, where she was a startingpitcher for theLonghorns since 2002. Osterman holds theBig 12 Conference pitchingTriple Crown for her careerwins,ERA, andstrikeouts, as well asshutouts,no-hitters,WHIP, andperfect games; she also holds theNCAA Division I record for strikeout ratio (14.34).
In theNational Pro Fastpitch, Osterman was drafted first overall and is the career leader in strikeout ratio (10.90) and no-hitters (6). She is also one of NCAA's five pitchers to strikeout 1,000 batters with 100 wins, an ERA of under 1.00, and averaging double digit strikeouts.[1] She was a member of the independent "This Is Us" team.[2] In May 2020, she joined and eventually won the inaugural championship in theAthletes Unlimited Softball league as the top individual points leader.[3][4] Osterman was also named No. 3 Greatest College Softball Player and the No. 1 pitcher in NCAA history.[5][6]
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She started playingsoftball in first grade before quitting to playsoccer andbasketball. Osterman found her way back to the diamond in fifth grade, when she was filling in as a backup pitcher for a little league team.
Osterman was born inHouston, Texas to parents Gary and Laura Osterman. Her younger brothers are Craig and Chris. She attendedCypress Springs High School inCypress, Texas from 1997 to 2001, where she set several records on the school's softball team.[7]
In 2001, she struck out 33 batters in a 14-inning 1–0 shutout overCy-Fair High School. The performance ranked 16th on the list of strikeouts in a single game. As such, she set a national record for strikeouts in a game less than 20 innings, beating Jenny Stallard's previous record of 31 in 19 innings in 1988; she also set a national record for strikeouts in a 14-inning game, breaking Michele Granger's former record of 31 in 1985.
Osterman was named a National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Second TeamAll-American.[8] She was also namedBig 12 Conference First Team,Big 12 Freshman of the Year andBig 12 Pitcher of the Year. She broke and set UT single-season records for wins (led theNCAA),innings pitched, games started,shutouts, strikeouts, strikeout ratio (led theNCAA) and appearances. Currently only her inning pitched and games started remain top season records from this year. Her freshman ERA was and is a top-5 school record. Osterman also set the UT single-game record for innings-pitched (14) and single game strikeouts. She also tied the UT single-season record for complete games.
Osterman debuted on February 6, tossing six shutout innings, allowing two hits and fanning 11 of theTexas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders.[9] In a March 20 no-decision against theTexas State Bobcats, she struck out 24 in over 10-innings for a career best. That game also was and is a top-5NCAA record for combined strikeouts at 34, which she shares with Nicole Neuerburg and tied Osterman fourth for an individual pitcher's total in a single game all-time.[10]
Osterman became the first UT freshman to be namedBig 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, for the week of February 19, in which she threw twono-hitters. The first, a 3–0 win over theUtah Utes on February 13 and then a 4–0 win over theTexas State Bobcats on February 15.[11] They were only the third and fourthno-hitters by a UT freshman, and Osterman became only the second Longhorn pitcher to accomplish the feat, along with Natalie King in 2001. She also threw the firstperfect game in UT history in a game againstStephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks on February 26.[12] She proceeded to throw two more in her freshman season to match and set two all-timeNCAA Freshman Class records for season no-hitters (5) andperfect games (3), the latter record has since been surpassed.
Osterman repeated honors as anAll-American, now a First Team selection, as well asBig 12 "Pitcher" and "Female Athlete" of The Year.[13] She also earned her firstUSA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.[14] Osterman threw 4no-hitters and aperfect game, while breaking her own UT records for ERA, shutouts and strikeout ratio (all-time NCAA Sophomore Class record), of which she also led theNCAA in, except shutouts; the strikeout ratio was a newNCAA season record. She also tied her own shared record for complete games and posted career records in wins (68), shutouts (35), strikeouts (1,042), and opponents-batting-average (.105).
From April 22 – May 22, she pitched a career high and UT record 65 consecutive scoreless innings. The streak began with a win against theTexas A&M Aggies and was broken in a 3–2 win over theULL Ragin' Cajuns; the streak ran over 12 games (7 complete) and 11 wins and included 115 strikeouts, 16 hits and 9 walks. Osterman is so far the second pitcher inNCAA history to strike out 1,000 batters in only two seasons and in that very same game on May 22, during theWomen's College World Series vs. theULL Ragin' Cajuns, she struck out 11 to reach the milestone.[15] Osterman also is noted for just needing over 500 innings pitched to get into the club, the fewest of anyNCAA Division I pitcher.
With that win, Osterman and the Longhorns the next day advanced to meet theCalifornia Golden Bears, whom Osterman shutout with 17 strikeouts to tie Lisa Ishikawa's WCWS record for a single game performance.[16] In a doubleheader on the 25, the Longhorns lost to theUCLA Bruins in back-to-back games and were eliminated. Osterman was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.[17]
Osterman redshirted from UT to participate with fellow college softball pitcherJennie Finch in theOlympic Games in Athens.
Osterman went undefeated in 24 appearances during the USA Softball National Team's 53-game schedule. On February 20, she struck out 9 batters in four perfect innings and combined with Finch for ano-hitter. On May 17, she struck out 7 of 9 batters over three innings, after which Finch struck out the final six batters in a row to combine for aperfect game and defeat the Sonic Stars, 10–0. On July 10, she struck out 13 batters over 5-innings for anotherno-hitter, this time missing perfection on a lone error by first-basemanStacey Nuveman in a 16–0 win over the Fort Worth All-Stars.
Osterman picked up two wins and a save in the Olympiad. She followed Finch andLori Harrigan of theUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas by striking out the final two batters in Team USA's 7–0 victory over Italy on August 14; she gave up one hit and struck out 11 batters over 8-innings in Team USA's 3–0 victory over Japan on August 16; and she gave up one hit and four walks while striking out 10 batters over 6-innings in Team USA's 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei on August 20. Her 23 strikeouts ledTeam USA.
Osterman received her second First TeamAll-American citation and repeated honors from theBig 12 and USA Softball.[18][19][20] She also added theHonda Sports Award for softball that year as well.[21][22] Osterman was named the 2005 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category) by the Women's Sports Foundation.[23] She also topped her previous UT single-season records for ERA (career best), strikeouts, strikeout ratio (all-timeNCAA Junior Class record), shutouts, opponents batting average and complete games. The opponents BA remains the school record and Osterman again led theNCAA in ERA and strikeout ratio in addition; the ratio was another new all-time record. Finally, she setBig 12 records in ERA, strikeouts and opponents batting average, of which only the strikeouts has been surpassed. She finished the season at third place on the all-time NCAA single-season strikeout list.
Osterman threw 6no-hitters (an NCAA top-5 season record) and three moreperfect games (another NCAA top-3 and Junior Class season tying record) while setting a career best WHIP. Osterman was and is still the only pitcher to have two threeperfect game seasons, including 2002. On February 27, Osterman combined withAnjelica Selden of theUCLA Bruins to strike out 31 batters in an 8-inning win for the Longhorns.[24] She also struck out 20 or more batters in four separate games, one of which came on March 17 vs. the No. 1Arizona Wildcats; Osterman struck out 23 in a 10-inning shutout. The game tied her combination strikeouts record of 34, this time withAlicia Hollowell.[25]
Beginning on March 4, the Longhorn posted a career best 24.2 consecutive hitless innings when she surrendered a first-inning hit to theEvansville Purple Aces to open a three-game series before shutting them down for the rest of the game. The next day, Osterman threw the final 1.2 innings by striking out all batters faced in an eventual win for the Aces. On March 9, Osterman struck out her 1,200th batter to tie Lisa Ishikawa ofNorthwestern University for 10th place on the NCAA all-time strikeout list; the victory was also her sixth careerperfect game.[26] On March 11, she moved past Ishikawa and passed Jocelyn Forest of theUniversity of California, Berkeley to take ninth place with a second consecutive no-hitter against theUTEP Miners. Finally, on March 14, Osterman came on in relief vs. theUCLA Bruins and retired the first five batters before the streak ended with a sixth-inning leadoff single. Overall, Osterman allowed only two walks and struck out 64 batters in four wins over 5 games during the streak.
On March 15, she reached 1,229 to surpass Amanda Renfro ofTexas Tech for eighth place; on March 17, she passed Shawn Andaya ofTexas A&M to take seventh place. On March 23, she struck out her 1,291st batter, passing Sarah Dawson of theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe for sixth place. On March 25, Osterman became the sixth NCAA Division I pitcher to strikeout 1,300 batters. On April 6, she passedDanielle Henderson for fifth place on the NCAA all-time strikeout list; on April 10, she struck out 7 in 3.1 innings to surpass Britni Sneed for fourth place. On April 13, she passedNicole Myers to take third place; on April 16, she struck out 13 in a 3–2 win over theUniversity of Missouri to become the third member of the 1,400-strikeout club (along withMichele Granger andCourtney Blades). Later she would again whiff 24 to match her own school record vs. theTexas Tech Red Raiders and along with Erin Crawford combined for another 31 strikeouts on April 26.[27] On May 12, she crested the 1,500-strikeout plateau; on June 3, she broke the 1,600-strikeout mark.
On June 2, Osterman opened her WCWS by matching her shared record with 17 strikeouts vs. theAlabama Crimson Tide.[28] The team eventually lost to theUCLA Bruins on June 5, who in turn lost to the eventual champions theMichigan Wolverines, to whom the Longhorns had also lost to earlier in the tournament.[29] Osterman andAlicia Hollowell set a new WCWS record for combined strikeouts at 30 in their 11-inning battle; Osterman was named All-Tournament.[17]
Osterman earned honors for a final time from the NFCA,Big 12 and USA softball.[30][31][32][33] Again Osterman also collected her second Honda Award.[34] She broke and set her final set of Longhorn records in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and strikeout ratio (all-timeNCAA Senior Class record), all were career highs. Osterman became one of the first pitchers to have three 500-strikeout seasons to her credit. For a fourth time in her career, Osterman led theNCAA in ERA and strikeout ratio, setting a new all-time season record in the latter category at 15.4. These would help her to aBig 12 pitching Triple Crown for the best in wins, ERA and strikeouts for that year.
Osterman pitched 5no-hitters (NCAA top-5 season record) and opened the season with six consecutive shutouts, including an opening dayno-hitter and a 16–0 romp over theOklahoma Christian Lady Eagles. On February 11 she won her 100th career game, 3–0, against theNorthwestern Wildcats in shutout fashion.[35] On February 16, she struck out 13Oklahoma Christian Lady Eagles batters to bring her career total to 1,708, making her just the second pitcher in NCAA history to reach the 1,700 plateau. Later she also struck out 20 batters in a 7-inning, 5–1 win over theUTSA Roadrunners on February 21 (the Senior Class record for a regulation game), which is tied second most inNCAA history and her career best at Texas for a regulation game.[36]
On February 25, Osterman struck out 6Fresno State Bulldogs batters in a 7–2 win and then proceeded to strike out 7 batters in a 4–0 victory over theUNLV Rebels, bringing her career strikeout total to 1,774 to surpassCourtney Blades as the all-time NCAA Division I leader.[37] The next day, Osterman defeated the No. 1Arizona Wildcats in an 18-strikeout, three-hit shutout to hand them their first loss.[38] On March 1, she struck out 15 batters in a 5–1 win over theUTA Mavericks to bring her career total to 1,807, making her the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to reach the 1,800 watershed.[39]
Osterman recorded her 109th career win over theUTA Mavericks to tie Jessica Sallinger for 16th on the NCAA all-time career wins. On March 3, she recorded her 110th career win overOle Miss Rebels to pass Salinger and tie Jenny Voss for 15th place; the next day, she recorded her 111th career win over theHouston Cougars to pass Voss and tie Samantha Iuli at 14th place. In a win over theWashington Huskies on March 16, Osterman combined withDanielle Lawrie for 32 strikeouts in regulation, then the highest combined total in theNCAA for a single 7-inning game.[40]
On March 17, Osterman struck out 13Michigan Wolverines batters in her first loss of the season (following 17 consecutive wins) to become the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to enter the 1,900 Strikeout Club.[41] On March 19, she threw her second win (third of her career) over the No. 1Arizona Wildcats in 9-innings, allowing a hit and whiffing 19.[42] On April 5, she struck out 5Texas A&M Aggies batters to become the first pitcher to enter the 2,000 Strikeout Club; her milestone strikeout was against leadoff third-baseman Jamie Hinshaw.[43] On April 29, Osterman struck out 16Oklahoma State Cowgirls batters to become the first pitcher to enter the 2,100 Strikeout Club; on May 26, she struck out 16Washington Huskies to become the first pitcher to enter the 2,200 Strikeout Club.[44]
On March 16, Osterman recorded her 114th career win to tie Shawn Andaya for 13th place on the NCAA all-time list. On March 18, Osterman recorded her 115th career win overNotre Dame Fighting Irish to pass Andaya and tie Jennifer Stewart and Shelley Laird for 12th place; the next day, she recorded her 116th career win over theArizona Wildcats to pass the two and tie Kristin Schmidt and Debby Day for 11th place.
On March 22, Osterman recorded her 118th career win—over theGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets—to tie Jamie Southern for 10th place on the NCAA all-time list. On March 25, she recorded her 119th career win over theNebraska Cornhuskers to pass Southern and tieJennie Finch, Brooke Mitchell andMichele Granger for ninth place. On March 29, Osterman recorded her 120th career win to pass them and tie Britni Sneed and Sarah Dawson for eighth place on the all-time list.
On April 14 and April 15, Osterman recorded her 124th and 125th career wins over theOklahoma Sooners to tie and then pass Nancy Evans for sixth place on the all-time list. On April 29 and April 30, she recorded her 129th and 130th career win over theOklahoma State Cowgirls to tieUCLA Bruins pitcher Keira Goerl for fifth place on the all-time list.
On June 1, Osterman recorded her 136th and finalNCAA career win, finishing in sixth place on the all-time list. In the win, Osterman struck out 18Arizona State Sun Devils to set a new WCWS 7-inning game record; she also brought her season total to 608, passingMonica Abbott's 2005 strikeout total for second place on the single-season strikeouts list, 33 behindCourtney Blades's all-time record. The win was also her 85thNCAA career shutout, putting her in second place behindMichele Granger's career record 94 shutouts.[45] Osterman'sNCAA career hopes for a World Series championship ended on June 3; following a 2–0 loss to theArizona Wildcats on June 2, she lost her second game in a row, 2–0 again, to theBruins (who had ended the Longhorns run for a championship in 2003 and 2005).[46]
Osterman ended her career with school records in wins, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, innings pitched, shutouts, strikeout ratio and opponents batting average. She continues to hold the crown for all categories.[47] Osterman claims theBig 12 records for all the same categories minus the innings pitched and opponents batting average.[48] Finally, she owns the ratio record for theNCAA Division I and is top-10 in wins (6th), strikeouts (2nd), shutouts (3rd), WHIP (2nd), perfect games (2nd) and no-hitters (3rd).[49]
On July 2, 2006, Osterman threw a 12–0no-hitter against theArizona Heat in theUSA Softball Exhibition, missing theperfect game by walking Kaleo Eldridge. She struck out 12 Heat batters, catching every batter at least once.
On July 17, 2006, Osterman won the championship game of the2006 World Cup by beating Team Japan 5-2, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out 11 batters. She recorded two wins in the tournament, striking out 21 batters in 14-innings of work over three games (including two complete games, and a 9–0 shutout against Team Australia).
On August 28, Osterman made her television broadcast debut when she was the color commentator forESPN2's broadcast of theNational Pro Fastpitch championship and all-star games.
In 2007, Osterman appeared sparingly onESPNU broadcasts as a color commentator for certain college softball games, including the game in whichMonica Abbott surpassed her own career strikeout record.
On February 15, 2006, Osterman was the first overall pick in theNational Pro Fastpitch (NPF) softball league draft.[1] She was chosen by theConnecticut Brakettes. The Brakettes were formerly known as the Stratford Brakettes of theAmateur Softball Association.[50] However, even though Osterman had been on their amateur roster for the five seasons prior to being drafted, she chose not to sign with them, making her officially a free agent on September 30. On December 19, 2006, theRockford Thunder of the NPF announced that they signed Osterman to a contract for the 2007 season.[2] Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.[51]
On May 29, 2007, Osterman pitched her professional debut, striking out 24 batters in a 12-inning, 1–0, win over theChicago Bandits, which tied the league single game strikeout record. Opposing pitcherJennie Finch struck out 17 to combine for another NPF record 41 strikeouts.[52] In June 2007, Osterman went 3–2 with four complete games, striking out 69 batters in 36.2 innings, while giving up 5 runs on 16 hits and 8 walks. In July, Osterman took a leave from the Thunder to travel with the US National Team, returning to the NPF following theWomen's Pan-Am Games. In August, Osterman went 1–4 with two complete games, striking out 57 batters in 33.2 innings, while giving up 10 runs on 14 hits and 21 walks.
In herrookie professional season, Osterman struck out 126 batters while walking 29, and surrendered 15 runs (12 earned) on 30 hits. She set a then league record with career best strikeout ratio of 12.5. She also had her first careerno-hitter on August 26, 2007, over theNew England Riptide, which got her team into the Cowles Cup Championship.[53]
In 2009, Osterman set career bests in ERA and WHIP and from June 6-August 9 she had a career best shutout streak of at least 55 innings that was snapped by the USSSA Pride in a 7-0 loss.[54] She accomplished a no-hitter on June 13 over theAkron Racers. She won the Cowles Cup Championship in shutout fashion on August 23, 2009. She was named an All-Star and MVP for her efforts.[55]
After announcing her retirement, Osterman went on to have arguably her best season ever. She won the pitchingTriple Crown (only the second pitcher ever to accomplish the feat) and simultaneously set then season records in both the wins and strikeouts categories. The pitcher also was named All-NPF and tossed twono-hitters, the first coming on June 11, 2013 where she struck out 14, giving up only three walks.[56] On June 27, she tied another single game record by punching out 18 batters in a 7-inning 3-0 win also against the NY/NJ Comets.[57]
Osterman pitched her team through to the Cowles Cup Championship on August 24, 2013. She got the save in the finale and threw a shutout and two wins en route to the title and an MVP award.[58][59][60] The victories would start a career best win streak that would stretch into her final season.
For the 2014 season, Osterman was named Pitcher of the Year, earned her second consecutive pitching Triple Crown with a perfect season, extending her win streak to 18 straight games.[61] On August 23 The Pride won the Cowles Cup championship, and she helped throwing two shutout wins resulting in back-to-back MVP awards on August 23.[62] She also threw her fifth careerno-hitter on July 5.[63]
Osterman opened the 2015 season with three wins for 21 consecutive victories dating back to 2013, a career highlight. The Akron Racers broke through on June 22 with a 2-0 decision. For the streak, Osterman completed 149.0 innings and surrendered 63 hits, 11 earned runs and 40 walks while fanning 237 hitters for a 0.51 ERA and 0.69 WHIP.[64] On July 10, 2015, Osterman pitched the sixthno-hitter of her NPF career, beating the Pennsylvania Rebellion 2-1.[65]
On June 8, 2017, the Pride announced that Osterman's jersey number 8 had been retired, commemorating it with a banner on the outfield fence.[66] Osterman currently is tops in career strikeout ratio and no-hitters, while ranking second in ERA and strikeouts overall; the first pitcher to reach 1,000 career strikeouts.
On July 11, Osterman threw ano-hitter in the2003 Canada Cup, striking out 10 batters to defeat Team Canada, 8–0; on July 12, Osterman pitched her secondno-hitter of the 2003 Canada Cup, striking out 16 of 24 batters to defeat the Stratford Brakettes, 5–0.
On August 15, Osterman threw aperfect game to winthe Gold-Medal game of the 2003Pan American Games against Canada 4–0, securing Team USA's fifth consecutive PanAm Gold Medal. She struck out 14 batters in a game that was delayed three-and-a-half hours due to rain.
On June 12, Osterman picked up the win in Team USA'sGold-Medal 9–0 victory over Australia in the2005 International Sports Invitational; she gave up one hit and struck out ten batters over five innings.
Osterman continued to pitch for USA Softball Women's National team in 2007. In the Canada's Cup, she struck out 18 batters in 8-innings over four games from July 1–7 and gave up 1 run on three hits and four walks. In the World Cup, she struck out 21 batters in two complete game wins on July 13 and July 16, giving up four hits, two walks, and no runs.
In the Women's Pan-Am Games, Osterman threw a 5-inningno-hitter against Cuba on July 26, giving up just one walk and striking out 15. In the Japan Cup, she struck out 20 batters in 9-innings over three games from November 16–18, giving up three hits, one walk, and one unearned run.
Osterman went undefeated in 28 appearances during the USA Softball National Team's 60-game tour, contributing 15 wins to Team USA's 59–1 record. She struck out 247 batters in 116.2 innings, giving up 9 runs on 37 hits and 18 walks, and throwing 9 complete games.
On February 22, she struck out 7 batters in three perfect innings and combined with Abbott and Finch for a 9–0no-hitter against the Palm Springs All-Stars.[67] The next afternoon, she struck out 5 batters in two perfect innings to close out another 9–0 combinedno-hitter with Finch againstFlorida Atlantic University, the first of two combinedno-hitters for Team USA in the February 23 double-header.[68]
On the 24th, Osterman struck out 7 batters in the final three innings of a combined perfect game; Abbott struck out 7 in the opening three innings of a 15–0 rout of Hawaii.[69] On May 16, Osterman struck out 14 batters in a complete-game 13–0 no-hit victory over the Visalia All-Stars, missing the perfect game by hitting Lindsey Herrin with a pitch.[70]
On July 10, Osterman struck out 22 batters in 9.1-innings, leading Team USA to a 31–0 victory over the Spokane All-Stars.[71] She struck out 10 or more batters 11 times during the tour, and topped 15 strikeouts four times.
On August 13, Osterman struck out 13 batters in ano-hitter against the Australian national team.[72] She issued three walks in the3–0 victory, which was Team USA's 16th consecutive Olympic win.[73] The 7-inningno-hitter was just the second in U.S. Olympic history, followingLori Harrigan's 6–0perfect game against Canada onSeptember 17, 2000,[74] and was Osterman's 100th game-played with the U.S. Women's National Team.
On August 15, following Team USA's7–0 victory over Japan, Osterman pitched the final 4-innings of the suspended match against Canada, postponed from the previous day due to rain and lightning. Osterman struck out 8 batters and allowed one hit, enabling the line-up to mount a comeback for an8–1 win, Team's USA's 18th consecutive victory and Osterman's second of the 2008 Games.[75]
On August 18, Osterman pitched the first three innings of a 5-inning9–0 win over China, giving up a hit, a walk, and hitting a batter, while striking out three. Osterman's third win of the tournament was Team USA's 21st consecutive Olympic victory.
On August 20, Osterman earned a save—her first for Team USA since the Athens Olympics—in a 9-inning4–1 win over Japan. She inherited a runner from Abbott before retiring three batters for a perfect ninth to preserve the victory and advance to theGold Medal Match, where Team USA faced Japan once again following Japan's 12-inning 4–3 win over Australia in theBronze Medal Match.
On August 21, Osterman pitched the first 5 innings of a3–1 loss to Japan in theGold Medal Match, ending Team USA's winning streak at 22 consecutive games and clinching the silver medal of the 2008 Summer Games. The loss was Team USA's first since a 2–1 loss to Australia on21 September 2000, and marks the first time in four Olympiads that the US National Team has failed to win the gold. Osterman gave up two runs on three hits while striking out 9 batters; the runs and the loss was the first in her Olympic career.[76]
Osterman retired after the 2008 games. In 2018, she announced that should would be un-retiring once softball was reintroduced for the 2020 games. Osterman made the team for the 2019 season. She helped Team USA win a silver medal at the2020 Summer Olympics.[77] Osterman did not allow a run in 14 innings of work and won two games for Team USA. She started the gold medal game againstTeam Japan but eventually the team was defeated in a 2–0 loss on July 27, 2021.[78][79]
In November 2024,Athletes Unlimited hired Osterman as the general manager for team Volts in their inaugural season of theAthletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).[80][81]
Among her favorite athletes are fellow TexansRoger Clemens andNolan Ryan, as well as NBA playerHakeem Olajuwon and actor/ directorKevin Costner. She was the first softball player to appear on the cover ofSports Illustrated (the October 7, 2002 "America's Best Sports Colleges" issue), and made a second SI cover with the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal Softball team to become one of two softball players to appear on the cover ofSports Illustrated twice.
In the bonus features of the "Bad News Bears" DVD,Billy Bob Thornton admits to having a crush on Cat Osterman.
Osterman is a spokesperson forUnder Armour as well as having an endorsement contract and signature glove withWilson.
In 2009, Osterman posed nude along with three of her Olympic teammates for the first annualThe Body Issue ofESPN The Magazine. Of the shoot, Osterman said that it was a "surprisingly emotional experience"[82] and that "even though I was terrified on set at first, I'm glad I did it. Sometimes it's necessary to push yourself to see what you are made of."[83]
In 2012, Osterman was inducted into theTexas Sports Hall of Fame.[84]
In 2014, Osterman signed on as an assistant softball coach atTexas State University.[85]
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | Sh | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 14.0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 22 | — |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | Sh | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1998 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | Sh | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1999 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 146.0 | — | — | — | — | 312 | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 176.0 | — | — | — | — | 394 | — |
| 2001 | 20 | 4 | — | — | — | 20 | — | 184.0 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 451 | 0.00 |
| TOTALS | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 507.0 | — | — | 7 | 22 | 1158 | — |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | Sh | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1999 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 182 | — | — | 2 | — | 299 | = |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | 106 | — |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | Sh | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2001 | 4 | 1 | 6 | — | 4 | — | 0 | 30.0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 0.00 | 0.46 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | 6 | — | 6 | — | 0 | 38.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 85 | 0.55 | 0.23 |
| TOTALS | 10 | 1 | 12 | — | 10 | — | 0 | 68.0 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 137 | 0.31 | 0.34 |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2001 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 68.2 | 33 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 111 | 0.71 | 0.77 |
| 2003 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 51.2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 99 | 0.27 | 0.33 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 74.2 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 170 | 0.00 | 0.31 |
| Olympics | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 0.00 | 0.49 |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19.0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 0.74 | 0.21 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 27.0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 0.52 | 0.52 |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 34.0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 74 | 0.21 | 0.53 |
| 2008 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 116.1 | 37 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 247 | 0.42 | 0.47 |
| Olympics | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 19.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 33 | 0.71 | 0.47 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 46 | 0.69 | 0.39 |
| 2021 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58.0 | 29 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 97 | 0.96 | 0.76 |
| Olympics | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0.00 | 0.42 |
| TOTALS | 74 | 5 | 129 | 80 | 35 | 42 | 5 | 519.0 | 159 | 46 | 33 | 99 | 1030 | 0.44 | 0.49 |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2002 | 36 | 8 | 51 | 40 | 27 | 17 | 3 | 304.1 | 130 | 43 | 36 | 62 | 554 | 0.83 | 0.63 |
| 2003 | 32 | 6 | 40 | 36 | 27 | 18 | 0 | 242.2 | 72 | 18 | 13 | 39 | 488 | 0.37 | 0.46 |
| 2005 | 30 | 7 | 42 | 33 | 31 | 22 | 0 | 272.2 | 68 | 23 | 14 | 48 | 593 | 0.36 | 0.42 |
| 2006 | 38 | 4 | 47 | 39 | 36 | 28 | 2 | 286.0 | 78 | 19 | 17 | 43 | 630 | 0.41 | 0.42 |
| TOTALS | 136 | 25 | 180 | 148 | 121 | 85 | 5 | 1105.2 | 348 | 103 | 80 | 192 | 2265 | 0.50 | 0.49 |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2007 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 70.1 | 30 | 15 | 12 | 29 | 126 | 1.20 | 0.84 |
| 2009 | 11 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 84.1 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 148 | 0.41 | 0.63 |
| 2010 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 39.0 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 54 | 1.25 | 0.64 |
| 2011 | 15 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 102.0 | 51 | 25 | 16 | 33 | 166 | 1.10 | 0.82 |
| 2012 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 106.0 | 57 | 23 | 17 | 29 | 148 | 1.12 | 0.81 |
| 2013 | 19 | 4 | 25 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 155.0 | 77 | 26 | 21 | 53 | 255 | 0.94 | 0.84 |
| 2014 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 113.0 | 48 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 180 | 0.49 | 0.69 |
| 2015 | 16 | 4 | 20 | 22 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 139.2 | 62 | 25 | 20 | 29 | 183 | 1.00 | 0.65 |
| TOTAL | 95 | 24 | 142 | 115 | 82 | 38 | 12 | 809.1 | 381 | 136 | 106 | 225 | 1260 | 0.91 | 0.75 |
| YEAR | W | L | GP | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
| 2020 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 64.0 | 37 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 95 | 1.53 | 0.86 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 60.0 | 31 | 23 | 15 | 26 | 50 | 1.75 | 0.95 |
| TOTAL | 17 | 5 | 23 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 124.0 | 68 | 38 | 29 | 44 | 145 | 1.63 | 0.90 |
Cat Osterman—awards, championships and honors | |||||||||||||
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