CAT'S CORNER

Ok fans! I know you have been waiting for a blog…. I’ve been slacking I know. I’ll update on everything happening in Japan, but first I want to touch on something that I feel is an important campaign.

As many of you know, a lot of the members of the USA Women’s National Team have declined our invitations to tryout for Team USA this summer in order to play in the NPF and help it grow. All of the players in the NPF are playing, not to make tons of money, but to help this sport grow. We are trying to continue to pave the way for a viable professional league to be an opportunity for future generations. Part of growing is gaining financial support, and the NPF has launched a campaign called Twenty for 20. The goal is to raise money $20 at a time. Give $20 to help us grow and thrive all the way into 2020 or until we have 20 teams! Take your pick. Personally I donated in honor of the girls I give lessons to, the girls on my 16U Platinum team, to my teammates, and even to the owners and staff who are constantly trying to keep this dream alive.

Softball has been a major part of my life since the age of 11. I picked up a ball, started pitching, with no real dream of what I was going to do with it. I look back now, and realize how this silly little ball has shaped me as a person. I also see the path I’ve followed with it. I am not sure what I would be doing if I didn’t have the opportunities I do. I can’t imagine my life any other way now. This game has not only given me an avenue to play, to influence younger players, but it’s taught me lessons and given me an extended family I would never have had. It’s important to me that younger girls have this same opportunity to grow as a player and a person on the field. You don’t just learn and grow when we are young, it’s a continuous process. I urge you, my fans, to go to www.profastpitch.com and donate $20 to keep this dream alive for many young girls!

Now to update you on Japan!

Well Megan and I came over here, then went back home for two weeks, and then came back to compete in our season. Everything has been fine as far as radiation, earthquake/ tsunami backlash. We haven’t felt any aftershocks, and the radiation levels have not increased where we are living!

We are currently 2-1 in league play! I forgot how much I hate losing until our first lost last weekend. It makes me so grumpy to lose, especially when I don’t feel like I pitched well. The atmosphere during a game is very different here. Bands play literally until the moment I start my wind up. Add to that the cheering of high pitch foreign language; it makes it hard to hear myself think a lot of the times. It’s a major adjustment, because I have always been good at tuning things out. Another factor we take for granted is communication. Until you are in a situation where you literally can’t communicate with your teammates, you don’t appreciate being able to talk every second of every game with your team.

My birthday was last week, and my team threw me a surprise party. We went to dinner with our American coaches, but the team showed up at the restaurant about 15 minutes after us in costumes and yelling Happy Birthday. It ended up being a really fun time, and they even gave me some pretty sweet birthday gifts.

In all, they are very welcoming here. We try to communicate with them the best we can. They speak some English, and we use the Japanese words or phrases we learn as well. The girls now look forward to when I get packages almost as much as I do! After sharing some Easter treats my mom sent, now they ask what’s in boxes. I opened one at practice yesterday and one of the girls came up and said “I want Chocolate.” Later she told me that since she is helping teach me Japanese, I have to send her boxes from the US when I go back home! Guess I better keep up my end.

That’s all for now! Check out burntorangenation.com for other blogs! Also my facebook page has pictures and constant updates, so go find www.facebook.com/catosterman

Kon ba wa! (Good night… for you guys because it’s morning here!)
#8