Prior to NewYears I had already started with a new trainer, and was working out 4 days a week under his guidance, so working out wasn’t really going to be a resolution. Plus, it’s part of my job… as an athlete you are supposed to work out. So again, that can’t be a resolution.

Well on January 1st, my best friend, Emily Pitek, asked if I wanted to join her in a Fit 365 challenege. She got the idea from some coaches at Bama, I think, and basically you try to be active every day for at least a bit. Our goal is to do something every day, the bare minimum being 15 mins of cardio or last resort 200-300 abs. We are almost two weeks into the year, and I have only missed 1 day due to being sick.

Days I don’t meet Lance to lift, I find it rewarding to make time to go do something. I usually take a book and ride the bike, or run my dogs. Every now and then I make up a circuit in my house to do for 15 mins. The point of the challenge, is no matter how busy life gets, I can find at least 15 minutes to be active. Plus, I add 15 minutes in order to indulge in some sweet treats!

So on top of my fit 365 resolution (for lack of a better name) I have decided I will try to cook more, eat out less, minimize my coke intake, read a book a month (since I didn’t do this last year), and be less attached to my phone… we’ll see how it goes!

Two hour sessions with a max of 4 pitchers & catchers per session.

Sessions will be grouped by age. Please try to bring the catcher that woks directly with you. This is geared toward the battery. All pitches will be covered. Catchers will cover blocking, framing and approaches to pitch calling.

Catching instructor USA Team Member & Texas A&M All-American, Meagan May.

December 15 & 16, 2012
602 Todd Drive, OaK Ridge North, Texas 77385

$100 per participant

To sign up email: cmay@txfirecrackers.com

Click here to download the Registration Form.

Lately, however, I have decided I’m getting to the age where I should watch what I eat, and make more of an attempt to have a real workout routine instead of flying by the seat of my pants. It’s only 5 days into it, but I already feel better. I have cut out a lot of breads, processed foods, dairy and sweets out of my diet. I’ve enjoyed my breakfast bowls of mixed fruit, my coffee black, and last night I have noodle-less chicken spaghetti! I cut up and sauteed zucchini and squash to take place of my noodles, and put a spicy chicken patty on top with sauce.

I’ve run with my roommate some mornings, 3 miles or more, and others we do Insanity. I will start to do some lifting in there too. I try to make time in the morning for everything, that way I don’t worry about it all day, and I am less tempted to put it off. I can say I’ve noticed how much happier I am through out the day, how productive I am, and more importantly how much better I feel physically and mentally.

Some times it just takes someone pushing you or pointing out you’re all talk and less action to get you off your butt. Whatever the wake up call is, I challenge everyone to get up and do more! Live a healthy life, and more importantly, be in control of yours.

The Pride started off a tad bit slow for most people’s standards, including our own. Being grown women, we sat down, had a group heart to heart, and then went on a terror to claim the NPF Regular season with a series left to spare.

Personally, I’ve felt pretty good from the get go. As expected, I’ve had no repercussions from my off-season surgery. And despite articles by SoftballChannel.com I was never contemplating retiring because of the condition I had. I feel like I’ve gotten stronger as season goes on, and more importantly I’ve become a slightly different pitcher. Some may call it age, I call it mental maturity, but I’ve given up on the need to strike everyone out, and been able to accept pitching for outs. It’s a different feeling believe me, but sometimes getting a weak grounder on a good pitch is just as fulfilling. Call me facist in my early years… I’m much more democratic now! (Bull Durham reference for those who are confused)

Anyways, it’s been amazing watching this team turn it around, and play the way we all know we are capable of. Obviously we have quite a few Olympians, but the players that fill out our roster are unbelievable. It took a bit, but this team is all in together, and it’s an incredible feeling. We are here in Chicago with confidence in our pocket, and our eye on the ending prize.

I wanted to talk about my feelings with the Olympics having just occurred, but I already typed enough for now. I’ll get back to you guys on that! Oh and on my most recent read… R.A. Dickey’s Wherever I Wind Up is a good one!

Check back in soon!
#8

PS. Since writing this, Caitlin Lowe won NPF Player of the Year, deservingly so. She’s been absolutely phenomenal on both sides of the field. Our C/1B/DH Kritsyn Sandberg won Rookie of the Year after coming in and being an offensive force. Natasha Wately won the Jennie Finch award, given to a player who gives back, and Tasha does this tremendously with her leadership of the Natasha Watley Foundation. Our team also took home 7 All NPF honors. An exciting start to what’s going to be an exciting weekend.

The spring ended on a high note. This year might be one of the most rewarding I have ever had. Many people think you shouldn’t go into business with a friend, but Lindsay and I defied the odds. I feel like that’s because we have always shared a mutual respect for one another, and we also have the ability to disagree or critique each other without taking it personal. That being said, year one was amazing.

Our Hilltoppers stepped up to our challenge. We knew it was going to be a long road to make the NCAA tournament, especially with our pre-season record. After a strong conference run, we finished runners up. Knowing winning our conference tournament was the only way we would get into the NCAAs, our kids found even more fire, and came out with a vengeance. My freshman pitchers stepped up big. Sarah Debrow got all 3 wins, 2 over conference winners St Mary’s, to earn tournament MVP. It was an exciting time knowing we were heading to Regionals. I can honestly say, as much as I have experienced in my own career, it is 100 times more rewarding to watch kids celebrate success knowing you helped guide them to that moment.

Even though we didn’t win Regionals, we still had a great run. Paired up with the #8 team in the country Angelo State, our Toppers didn’t back down. A 2 run homerun in the first inning, was all they got in the opening game. Saturday our kids came out with a fire again defeating the #20 team in the country, and eliminating Texas Women’s University who was receiving national votes. We fell short to Angelo State again, but not without a fight. It was awesome to see our players shine. Senior Miranda Yeager was Heartland Conference Player of the Year, while two freshmen pitchers made All Conference teams. The improvements each player made, and watching them become better human beings makes every day worth it. I can honestly say, I didn’t ever dread going to work.

On a personal note, I received my full release from the doctor on May 15^th!  I threw out the first pitch at the Astros game, and got to say hi and talk with Nolan Ryan again. The first time I ever met him was in Round Rock, and I was speechless. That night was by far one of the most fun. The Astros are actually putting together a decent season. Don’t write them off! These young guys are playing the game the right way.

NPF season is under way, and the USSSA Pride is 4-4 at the moment. I got my first start in Chicago, while it ended with a 1-0 loss, I felt really good in the circle again. It’s nice to feel my arm again, and to see my ball do what it’s supposed to do.  Even more exciting was my first complete game of the season in Corpus Christi.  Our team put up a great amount of offense, and I was able to settle in. I’m glad to say the surgery was a success, and I’m ready for the remainder of season.

In down time, I’m keeping busy with work for St Edwards, watching One Tree Hill on Netflix, and of course reading!

I’ll try to blog again soon…. Maybe another one with a good message like the last one about practice.

Thanks for reading!

#8

A number of events and conversations recently have led me to rack my brain about why many coaches claim “kids just aren’t the same these days.”  I’m quick to blame the technology era. Cell phones, video games, and the like have replaced the days of wall ball, kick ball and home run derby. Even in these silly little games, as kids, we got something out of it. Believe it or not, even though I don’t hit, I learned more about hitting playing home run derby with the boys than anywhere else at a really young age.

Now days, the art of practicing, is becoming lost. When a child lacks entertainment, rarely do you see them out shooting hoops or hitting off a tee. You don’t see buddies out playing catch. I can remember seeing the boys on my street playing catch with each other, whether it was a football or baseball. At least 3 of us had basketball hoops, so often you could find us in a driveway playing 3 on 3 or Horse. It really just isn’t the same.

Many times a parent or instructor will make the comment “you wouldn’t understand, I bet you were always really good.” I can’t talk for 100% of my peers, but I can bet most of us weren’t amazing softball players out of the womb. I know I wasn’t, so when someone tries to credit our status as elite athletes to something that “always was” they are far from the truth. If you ask me to recall my memories, I can recall more about practices growing up than I can games. Why? Practices had a purpose, and they were frequent.

As a college coach, all too often we see teams that just play. You have to play to be seen, so week in and week out they play tournament after tournament. My guess is they get one practice in between tournaments, and if they are lucky all the girls are there. How do you improve as a team if you can’t practice what goes wrong in a game? This is where it differs from when I was growing up. We didn’t play EVERY weekend, we had mid week practices and weekend practices. You have to practice more than once a week for improvement or change.

I truly believe the art of good practices and productive practices both on a team and individual basis is becoming lost. Athletes have to practice. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect. Those last three sentences are the words of the best softball coach in the country, Mike Candrea.

We’re in a day and age of instant gratification, but sports doesn’t evolve that way. The fun part about sports, the blood sweat and tears that produce improvement, aren’t going to speed up. It seems, in this age, the amount of blood, sweat and tears are decreasing for video games, texting and facebook. I challenge any parent reading this to assess how much time your athlete puts in to improving. Don’t count just going out and swinging 10 times to say she hit. How often do they practice with the purpose to improve at something?

I’m not saying this applies to every young athlete out there, because I have witnessed those die hards who would sleep on the field, only to wake up and start practicing again. Unfortunately, athletes like that are becoming the minorities.

To be good at your sport, you have to put the time. If you ask any of us that have made it to a higher level, we will preach on about our practices both with our team and at home. Lessons are great, but if you don’t practice in between them, what good do they do? No level of success comes without hard work, dedication, and an expectation of excellence. Another quote from Coach Candrea that has stuck with me is, “We strive for perfection in order to reach excellence.”

Practices are the fun part of our life now as professionals. There’s passion and energy to improve and learn from others. It was the same way when we were younger. Practice is where you are tested. Where expectations are set and you start your progression to meet them. Expectations aren’t pressure; they’re a way to measure you’re improvement. Parents, how far can your child go, if there’s no destination near or far set for them? They’ll most likely stay stationary.

As a coach, I hear more parents complain about too high of expectations or how the pressure of expectations is getting to their child. Question for you parents: do you face expectation at work or in real life? Do you think your child learning to deal with it early on might be a benefit. Ask any coach, our concern is not only to make your athletes better players in their respective sport, it’s to make them better people and equip them with things that will roll over to real grown up life!

Coddling of athletes in practice doesn’t help anyone, individual or the team. Practice is where we are pushed to our limits. Why? Because then in a game it seems easy. If you keep a high level of expectations (goals) you have something to CONSTANTLY work towards. Something to ALWAYS be practicing for. Something to compete with yourself and others daily to reach.

I challenge all coaches, parents and athletes alike to take a step back and look to see if you or your little athlete is practicing enough. Is their a purpose behind the practice or is it just going through the motions? What’s your expectation for the day, week, month, year, and eventually you’re career.

And lastly, parents don’t enable your kids’ laziness or accept excuses. In the long run, it doesn’t help them in sports or life. Make them be accountable and responsible for their practice. Help them set goals, push them to achieve them, but enable them to work towards it independently.

I can say from experience, my dad had his ideas of what he thought my career could be, he never voiced those. He just made sure if I were using his time throwing I would be giving 100%, and if I didn’t practice in between lessons, we wouldn’t go to the next one. Simple things like that fumed my work ethic, dedication and love for what I do. While my dad is my number one fan, at the right time, he was also my number one critic. Not because he was angry or upset with me, but because he wanted me to learn and realize what we needed to PRACTICE next.

I could go on and on…  maybe next I’ll blog about purpose or specifically about practicing pitching, as I think that’s a little lost as well, but for now I’ll leave you with an interesting link I found on parents of athletes:

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/more-family-fun/201202/what-makes-nightmare-sports-parent

I fired myself up to practice…. #8

2012 has been great thus far, and I hope it has for all of you as well. With the new year, spring season has come, which means softball. The Hilltoppers’ season hasn’t started the way we would hope. We currently have a 2-4 record, but have a 4 games in the next three days, so we have the chance to add to the W column!

Coaching isn’t new to me, but it’s always a challenge. Athletes tick just a little bit different, and finding out what motivates them is the biggest piece of the puzzle. I find that I take coaching more personal than I should. Any failure feels like somewhere I didn’t do my job in preparing them, but at the same time I’ve recognized that a lot of the feelings I get as a coach are because we don’t control anything that happens in the game. As a player, you play the game. You are in control. As a coach, you have to take confidence in the fact you’ve given your players all the tools to be successful.

Last night kicked off another career opportunity for me. The Longhorn Network has reached out to allow me to be the color analyst for Longhorn games when I can. When not coaching with the Hilltoppers I get to commentate at UT. It’s an exciting position, and I’m eager to learn and improve.

Rehab is going well. I am able to run again, and lift a little. Throwing is coming along slower than I’d like, but not slower than projected by the doctors, so I’m on pace. The next few weeks should be some big steps.

I wanted to answer some questions for you guys again, so here they are:

Danny Speegle asked: Outside of sports, what is another talent or interest that you would have enjoyed as a career?

Sports have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember, but when I was younger I enjoyed art a lot. That may be why I still paint from time to time. I believe being an artist or a photographer would be a fun career.

Steve Nick asked: What’s your favorite pizza topping?

If we have to go with traditional toppings, Pepperoni is my absolute favorite. However, my favorite pizza is buffalo chicken pizza, mainly from BJ’s but I get it at Double Daves and Dominos too.

Jim Burton asked: What’s the perfect relaxation day for you?

Most people like to sleep, but I think that’s wasting away the day. I enjoy the outdoors so hiking is fun and relaxing. I enjoy food, so follow that with a great meal somewhere fun. I could also spend a day reading by the pool!

Thanks for reading… #8

So I know I promised this a while ago, but things got a little more hectic than expected, and I refused to take my computer on vacation. But a new year, so a new blog!

Well, my new year has started off quite interesting. I had surgery to remove my first rib in order to relieve my Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I had a wonderful doctor, Dr. Gregory Pearl, who did such a great job that my pain has been minimal. He has worked on a number of MLB players, and said everything went smoothly. Now, if my muscles would just relax and not freak out because a rib is missing. This procedure should alleviate all the problems that have been creeping up on me the last 2-3 years. I’m glad to know what the cause was, and to know it should be fixed. I can’t wait to get a ball back in my hands.

2012 brings about a chance to get better at a number of things. I agree with a lot of people that resolutions are silly, and you should make changes when you see they need to be changed, but I’m committing myself to a number of things. I want to read more, a book a month is my goal. I want to be committed to a healthier lifestyle. Eating foods that are better for me, using organic foods, and even committing myself to working out year round. I’m also committing myself to being more engaged with the people around me, therefore I am putting down the cell phone and limiting texting and social media. There are a few others, but those are what I feel are the most important.

I also plan to start my Masters in the subject I always intended to get it in. I am going to take the GRE this month, and apply to get my Sports Psychology Masters from none other than the University of Texas. It’s amazing how life takes you back to your original passions. Sorry MBA, you are not for me.

In a month the St Edwards Hilltoppers will begin their season, and I am ecstatic. I cannot wait to see the team that we put on the field, and see how well we compete. Lindsay and I are so excited for this opportunity. If we could start practice tomorrow we would!

I know I said on my facebook I would answer a few questions in my blog, so here it goes:

Danny Speegl asked: Of all the places you have travelled to in your softball adventures, what has been your favorite?

There are two answers to this. Italy and Greece. I loved Italy, but we got to do the most sight seeing there. We went for 3 weeks, and played 5 games, so we had a chance to go visit Pisa, Rome, Venice and Florence. I also turned 21 there, but there was no big crazy birthday bash.

Greece is also included, not because we won the gold there, but because it was absolutely breath taking. Because it was business when we were there, we didn’t get to sight see much. I swear it looks just like when they show it in the movies. We had a 45 min ride to the field every day and I would just start out the window at the bright blue water, and the country. Once I retire, Greece is my first trip!

Hal Harris asked: What would you want to be when you grow up if being an athlete/coach weren’t an option?

This is hard because sports have always been my passion, and I’ve grown up wanting to be a coach because I watched aunts and uncles coach. However, if it weren’t an option, I think I would have been a lawyer. Especially when I was younger, I loved to argue and make my point!
Jeremy Rust: Are you still an Astros fan?

Yes! I love the Astros, and I’m going to have to learn who is actually on our roster now, but I’m not fair weather! I’ve loved them since I was young. I used to get my homework and pitching done so I could watch their games on TV. Of course there will never be days like those of the Killer B’s.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I am going to try to blog more, and actually follow through on that word. I have some topics in mind! In the mean time, keep in touch on my facebook page www.facebook.com/catosterman and on Twitter catosterman.

College season is only a month away, and the summer will be here before we know it! Can’t wait to get back on the field.

Be yourself and love the life you’re living…
#8

I am much better at writing than I am speaking, and today I tried with all my might to convey so many thoughts, but I feel like much is left unsaid. With that, I am going to share the bulk of my Hall of Honor speech, but also my true thoughts and emotions on this amazingly humbling occasion.

I tried to wrack my brain for stories to share during my speech, but I couldn’t come up with just one or two. You’d think after taking 6 years to go through school you would have enough to talk for hours. I can remember specific games or stories off the field with my friends, but nothing I thought symbolized my career at UT. When I discussed it with friends two themes kept popping up:

1. My undying love for the University of Texas and
2. How much I firmly believe my career would not have taken the path it did if I had chose to go anywhere else.

I will forever say I was Coach Clark’s easiest recruit. I decided in 4th grade I wanted to go to UT, but I don’t know if there was any real reason. If I had to guess, a friend of mine wanted to go to A&M, and I just wanted to be difficult or different! Softball wasn’t even in the picture then, so just think how easy a sell UT was once that yellow ball was in the picture! My time on 40 acres was filled with many wins, some losses, ups and downs, but what it game me is something I never dreamt of, and something I can never repay for.

Being a Longhorn puts you on a stage for the world to see; it gives you a platform to become something more than just another student athlete. Between the amount of TV exposure the University gets and the nation wide base of fans… correction world wide base of fans… being a Longhorn opens so many doors. I honestly believe my time here catapulted my career to a height I didn’t imagine. I had a dream to make the 2008 Olympic team. I firmly believe that my first two years at Texas forced me to grow and develop to be ready for that feat in 2004. Had I not been thrown into the fire so quickly, would that have been possible? I’m not so sure. For opportunities like that, I will be forever grateful.

I have to thank my family, mom, dad and my two brothers for their undying support. They along with my grandmother, who passed away, have been my number on fans. They followed me around the country every summer to watch me play, and help me achieve my dream to be a Longhorn. They’ve seen 1000 games, and will be there for a few more. From my dad I learned what it means to give 100%, I learned a work ethic that many have complemented. From my mom I learned what unconditional love is, and determination. Believe it or not, I learn a lot listening to you talk about your job, and I’m inspired more than you know.

Randa Ryan and her academic staff, thank you for your continuous support! It took 6 years, and A LOT of study hall time, but I did it! We got me across that stage.

Amy Folan and UT’s compliance office! Thank you for making my “red-shirt” year possible and making sure every thing I did was legal!

My teammates and friends, I know I can be difficult, so I cannot thank you enough for standing beside me along this amazing journey, for pushing, and more importantly understanding me and everything that encompassed my life.

Last but definitely not least, Coach Clark, Coach Looper, and Coach Hill… thank you for expecting the most out of me, pushing me to reach limits I didn’t think of. Coach you joke about my check list of things I wanted to accomplish, but you didn’t let me settle for anything less. You all taught me more than just the game, you taught me about life, and helped me grow into more than a player, but the person I am.

I want to share a story from when I lived in Chicago. I was shopping on Michigan Avenue one day, in street clothes, when I man comes running up to me. He’s frantic, saying “I know you… I know you…. You’re that pitcher from Texas!” I looked him in the eye and said “yes sir, I am ‘that pitcher from Texas’” and I can stand here and say I will always be proud to have that title! Hook ‘Em!!

Granted my speech didn’t come out as smoothly as writing it did, but I truly believe I was destined to be a Longhorn, and I am so proud to say I bleed burnt orange forever. I will forever be indebted to UT for what it gave me, and will continue to represent my University with pride.

The first half of Japan season wasn’t as successful as I would like it to be, but I did enjoy being over there. It was very interesting to live in another culture for so long. By the end of the first half of season, I was getting accustom to life there, but I was also itching to get home.

I returned to the States, and competed in our NPF season with the Pride. Again, my pitching wasn’t as consistent or as good so I am accustomed too. I kept working through it, trying to figure out if it were mechanical or just old age setting in. It was a challenege to work through, but towards the end I was feeling slightly better, but then I became injured. In the championship series I was pitching, and the best way to describe what happened was I felt something pull tightly in my arm, and even after a few minutes it was still throbbing.

After season ended, I came home to Austin to start to figure out what was wrong with my arm. After MRIs came back negative, I went up to Dallas to a specialist. Without hesitation he diagnosed me with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The simple way to explain it is that pressure has built up around my nerve bundle causing my nerves to not fire correctly. After talking with the specilist, this explains why I was having so many problems with my arm over the last 8-10 months. It explains why I couldn’t feel some things in my arm, and why I was always aching or in some sort of pain/soreness. The treatment for TOS is daily rehab or surgery. We are attempting to resolve this through rehab, but we’ll have to wait and see how it responds.

Because both of the doctors I saw said not to throw for 6-8 weeks, I was unable to return to Japan for the second half of season. Toyota Shokki still made the playoffs, and finished 3rd! They had a great run!

Lindsay and I announce our positions at St Edwards

Since NPF ended, I have been back in the Austin area working at St. Edwards. I am happy to say that I do still have a passion to coach, which excites me. We have a solid team, and my good friend/boss Lindsay Gardner and I have big visions for what lies ahead.

In the time I have been home, I witnessed the huge wildfire that swept across Bastrop State Park, and devastated our community. I grew up in the suburbs of Houston, so life in smaller towns is an eye opening experience to me, but it was so touching to see how an absolutely devastating situation caused so many to come together. It motivates me to get involved and help out.

Odds and ends… since the fire displaced many, I rescued a dog that needed a home. Ember is a collie/golden/Catahoula mix. She has way too much energy, but is absolutely adorable! I’m training for a half marathon. It’s a new challenge that keeps my competitiveness flowing.

That’s all for now… check back soon.
Cat