Former Longhorns softball pitcher Cat Osterman started the season 16-0 and was on her way to her most successful season at the University of Texas.
"2006 was probably the best year I've had start to finish. It was definitely a good start," Osterman said. "Just to go to the World Series and have probably have my best pitching performance at the series that I've had in my three experiences there was great."
Leading the Horns to the World Series for the third time would be very emotional for Osterman. With the Horns offense struggling, she was forced to be nearly perfect on the mound and it caught up with the team in a hard fought loss to UCLA.
It was an emotional game that ended her career as a Longhorn.
"It was just one of those [games] where it was so close and we just did not coming through. I take a lot of pride in wearing burnt orange and I love that I was part of this university. I love everything the university has given me and knowing that that was the last time I was wearing burnt orange, that was pretty emotional and I took it pretty hard," Osterman said.
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Top honors
Former University of Texas softball pitcher Cat Osterman is the News 8 Austin Athlete of the Year.
 
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Osterman threw two complete games in the World Softball Championships in Beijing, China, striking out 10 in the bronze medal game against Australia and 14 in the grand final against Japan for the title, which was a moment she will always cherish.
"I can honestly say that I probably pitched the two best games
of my life this summer with Team USA," Osterman said. "Confidence-wise, it just put me over the top and I think that you hear a lot of people talk about where you are ranked in the world. For me at that point it will be pretty tough to beat."
Osterman graduated in May. She plans to play in the 2008 Olympics and earn a master's degree in sports psychology from Cal State Fullerton.
"Then hopefully I will be back in Austin coaching. I've got it all planned out," she said.
Osterman coaches a youth softball team in her spare time in
Austin and even entertains the thought of being the head coach of the Horns softball team one day.
There doesn't seem to be anything this 6-2 lefthander from Houston can't do. So what about golf?
"From what I hear, my golf swing is not too horrible. I'm having fun and trying to improve with each hole," she said.
