The Amateur Softball Association announced Wednesday the selection of University of Texas pitcher Cat Osterman as the 2006 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. This marks the third time Osterman has received the sports highest award after being honored in 2003 as a sophomore and 2005 as a junior.
This season Osterman has led the Longhorns to a 54-7 overall record, the Big 12 regular season championship and their first ever No. 1 ranking earlier this season. This marks the third time in her career that Texas has advanced to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
She heads into the WCWS leading the nation in strikeouts with 590, an average of 15.5 per seven innings, runs allowed with only 14, hits allowed (66) and ERA with a 0.39 mark. She is 37-2 on the season and posted shutouts in 27 of those wins.
“I am honored especially for this being my third honor. It feels good to know that I was consistent through out my career. I was out there with two others who are strong competitors and it really could have gone to anyone of us,” Osterman said. “I think it’s a good testament to all the hard work I put in my senior season.”