Cat Osterman was named to the 2018 US Women’s National Team, USA Softball announced on Monday.
Texas State’s associate head coach was selected to the WNT by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee. The team will play in tournaments and invitational events before the 15-player roster is finalized for the Pan American Games.
“I am incredibly honored to be able to wear Red, White and Blue again,” Osterman said. “To be part of the 18 that get to take the field this summer is an extreme blessing. I am so excited to join the other 17 athletes and compete together to keep the tradition of USA Softball going.”
Osterman, 35, has had a storied softball career. She was the only three-time winner of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in 2003, 2005 and 2006, while playing for the Texas Longhorns. She was named to an NFCA First Team All-American three times and earned an ESPY for Top Collegiate Female Athlete in 2005 and 2006. She received the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award four times and was named the conference pitcher of the week a record 25 times. Osterman led Texas to three Women’s College World Series appearances in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Osterman played in two Olympic games, two World Championships and two Pan American games. She helped the USA team earn gold medals in the 2003 Pan Ams, 2004 Olympics, 2006 Worlds, 2007 Pan Ams, 2010 Worlds. The US team received the silver medal in the 2008 Olympics.
“This was without a question the most competitive trials that USA Softball has had in many years,” WNT head coach Ken Eriksen said. “The level of talent was undeniable and without question some of the best in the world. After two successful World Championships in 2016 and 2018, we knew this was going to be great to watch but hard to narrow down the field to 18 this summer.”