From the diaries. --PB--

Our beloved Gregory Gazelles (#3 Ranking) take their #1 seed (#4 overall) into the hostile environs of the Gainesville regional, where they are due to take on #3 seed (#13 overall) Florida in the Sweet 16 tonight at 6pm. The winner of this match advances to the Elite Eight to take on the winner of the earlier USC - St John's match.

Official Florida Site

TexasSports Preview

PHF Thoughts
There's no reason why Texas shouldn't advance from this regional to the Final Four. Although the O'Connell Center can be quite an intimidating venue, Texas did go there two years ago and upset a much higher ranked Florida team on their home court, breaking something like a 44-match home win streak. Texas has struggled a bit on the road this season (all three losses were away), but they proved they can handle diversity in two tough 5-game wins on the road at KSU and Iowa State. And this is not a team that will be easily intimidated.

The other advantage Texas has is its strength of schedule. While they took on tourney-bound teams like Penn State and New Mexico State in their OOC games, then were battle-hardened by a rugged Big XII schedule that included two matches with #1 Nebraska, #12 KSU and a ranked OU squad. On the other side of the coin, Florida had a Kansas-esque OOC schedule, with no ranked teams to truly test them. This was also a very down year for the SEC, which usually has 2-3 other schools ranked to provide a test for the Gators (typically Tennessee, LSU or Arkansas). Florida was upset by unranked Arkansas and Long Beach State squads, albeit both on the road.

I think Texas wins this one in 4.

How the teams match up:

Texas
NCAA Tournament seed – 4th
AVCA Ranking – Third
Record – 26-3
Top Hitter – Brandy Magee, MB, .429 and Lauren Paolini, MB, .414
Top Attacker (kills/game) – Destinee Hooker, OH, 4.58 and Juliann Faucette, OH, 4.54
Top Digger (digs/game) – Alyson Jennings, L, 3.67
Top Blocker (blocks/game) – Brandy Magee, MB, 1.30 and Lauren Paolini, MB, 1.25

Florida
NCAA Tournament seed – 13th
AVCA Ranking – Seventh
Record – 29-2
Top Hitter –Kelsey Bowers, MB, .361
Top Attacker (kills/game) – Marcie Hampton, OH, 4.49
Top Digger (digs/game) – Elyse Cusack, L, 5.43
Top Blocker (blocks/game) – Kelsey Bowers, MB, 1.34

The Gregory Gazelles' 3-0 sweep of Kansas State on Saturday night in Austin gave them a Big 12 co-championship with Nebraska, the 'Horns first conference title in 10 years.

Congrats to the Gazelles on a terrific season.

--PB--

From TempestHorn

The Big 12 Championship is on the line Wednesday at 6:30 at Gregory Gym.  As of 2 pm Monday only 500 seats remained.  Jump online and get your tickets if you are able to get there.  

Our 3 losses came at the hands of #2 Penn State and #1 Nebraska.  At the first Penn State Match we ran a 6-2 offense for the first time.  Ashley was injured in the 2nd Penn State Match.  The match in Lincoln we were without Engle & Hooker.  Not excuses, just merely stating we are at full strength Wednesday night running the same system we ran this year.  We replaced Dariam with 6'2" Julian Faucette who is just on fire!!!  We replaced Jen Todd with 5th year senior and All-American Brandy Magee.  We are a better team than the one that had a two game lead on NU last year in Austin but lost in 5.  I expect nothing less than victory.

Outside Hitters:  Faucette and Hooker for Texas.  Houghtelling and Larson for Nebraska.
Advantage:  Slight edge to Texas.  Juliann carried the team last time and I expect her to be just as intense now that she has help to shoulder the load.  Destinee takes it to another level in televised matches and I expect Wednesday night to be no different.  Destinee is capable of hitting OVER the block of 6’5" Pavan.

Middle Blockers:  Paolini and Magee for Texas.  Stalls and Cooper for Nebraska
Advantage: Texas.  Nebraska had the edge in the first meeting, but with Pao back to her natural position I think the edge slides over to the dynamic duo at Texas. Stalls can really tee off on the ball, but expect Pao to match her firepower.  Brandy's blocking leads the bunch.

Opposite Hitter:  Engle for Texas.  Pavan for Nebraska.
Advantage: Nebraska.  Their offense goes through Pavan as she averages almost 5 kills per game.  She is as lethal hitting from the back row as the front.   This match may very well come down to which team's left side block can control the other team's right side hitter.

Setter:  Moriarity for Texax. Holloway for Nebraska.
Advantage: Slight edge to Nebraska.  The setters are pretty even in their ability to distribute the ball to their talent.  Holloway always seems to come up with the well timed dump to give her team a crucial point.  She is easier to rattle than Michelle though.

Libero:   Jennings for Texas.  Schwartz for Nebraska.
Advantage: Even.  Alyson’s 4 years in the backcourt for Texas more than makes up for the edge in Schwartz’s digs per game.  

For Texas to win, Destinee & Juliann need to bring their A game.  One will go up against the block of Pavan (most likely Destinee) the other against Holloway.  Pavan gets frustrated when she doesn't block or her backrow doesn't get the dig.  Destinee had her worked up and chewing on the backrow during the first two games last year in Austin.  Most importantly for Texas, we have to keep the middle blockers and Ashley involved in the offense.  Their involvement will mean the Nebraska middles have to worry about the right side of the net.  In doing that, it will lead to some one on one opportunities for Juliann and Destinee on the left.  When that happens, Point Texas!

Our girl Cat Osterman struck out 13 overmatched Japanese women last night to lead the US to the World Cup of Softball title. Cat was on fire Monday night, striking out an astounding 10 of the first 13 batters she faced in the United States' 3-0 win. At one point she struck out seven in a row, and she retired the side on strikes in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.

I still remember the first time I was told about Cat Osterman and her positively disgusting statistics. Well, nothing's changed.

Okay, maybe a little bit's changed.

Congrats to Cat and all the US lady softballers.

--PB--

As promised, the Burnt Orange Nation interview with former UT standout Cat Osterman.

You're well-known as a fan of various UT sports teams. Andrea C. wants to know which sports - non-softball division - are your favorites?

I enjoyed watching basketball, both mens and womens, along with volleyball.  Being an athlete we were all close to each other, and I was best friends with Jody Bell and Jamie Carey, so I went to support them as much as possible.  I also became good friends with Michelle Moriarty, so when I can, I watch her play and wear her jersey in support. It's fun to just be a fan sometimes.

Along those same lines, patienthornsfan asks: "Cat, you were a regular supporter of other womens' athletics events while you were starring on the softball teams, and were often sighted at ladies basketball games and volleyball matches. Attendance at most of these events is far less than at other schools with less history and success.  If you were the Athletic Director, what would you do to improve attendance at womens' home games?"

First and foremost you have to make it fun for students. Sometimes I feel like the students are disassociated from the games and not close enough to be that presence. I don't think the student body is able to identify with most of our women athletes.  I think our media outlets need to give people the avenue to get to know your athletes.

Similarly, reader 54b emailed to ask: "What's it like to be the Michael Jordan of your sport but not have the same sorts of fame and fortune as reward for your dominance? Obviously, you're signing endorsement deals and off to an awesome start to your professional career, making UT fans proud all the way. But do you ever get exasperated that female superstar athletes aren't as rewarded as their male counterparts?"

I don't focus on the fact that I don't get as much as guys do or would. Sure if I was a male and played baseball and had my stats, I know I'd be a millionaire already, but I take pride in the fact that I can set some standards in the female athlete realm.  I have two incredible companies that have given me the oppurtunity to earn a living, while supporting softball.  Many people don't look at female athletes as athletes first, and until that changes, society won't give us equal avenues.

Reader Caradoc asks, "Do you think women's softball has become too much of a pitcher's game? And if so, what change would you make to bring in more offense?"

No, I don't think softball is too much of a pitcher's game. At the top level, you have elite pitchers who can dominate it and the fences have already moved back, but so has the mound.  there isn't much more you can do, because the bats are already hotter than they have ever been. I think people need to appreciate that art of pitching in the fastpitch game because its more than blowing the ball by people. Hitting is actually on the rise in the game.

One of our Aggie readers chimed in, wanting to know what your most memorable win at Texas was. And I'll add: your most memorable win for the US team?

I don't know if I have just one most memorable win at Texas. Throwing my last no hitter at OU (How great is it that she has to qualify which no hitter she's referring to? -ed.) was pretty big, and a great memory because their coach said some very nice comments to me afterwards.  The extra inning battle against Arizona at the World Series my junior year is the one that sticks out the most.  

As far as Team USA goes, beating Japan in China last summer to win the 2006 World Championships and claim the #1 ranking for the Olympics takes the cake. It was the best game I have ever thrown.

For those of us who don't know the mechanics of softball pitching, can you give us the layman's explanation for why your pitches are so difficult for batters to hit? No need to be modest here - the numbers speak for themselves.

Plain and simple, I never throw anything straight. My pitches always move, whether its vertically or horizontally.  I don't overpower people, and I rarely change speeds.  I have been able to master throwing movement pitches both in the zone and out of the zone.

What's the biggest difference so far in being a professional as opposed to an amateur? What are you liking most about it? What do you miss most about your amateur days?

I think the biggest thing in the professional realm is getting yourself prepared individually. I have a great team, and we have good team chemistry, but a lot of your preparation and working on fixing things is an individual responsability. I don't mind it though.  I love being able to be paid to play the sport I love, and I like being in a new place. Rockford has embraced us pretty well, and I am enjoying a new atmosphere.  I do miss being in Austin and always being able to meet new people who were fans or caught a game once in a while.  That celebrity status Longhorn fans make of their athletes is nice to enjoy sometimes, I won't lie!

And last, a personal favorite of mine - word association. I'll give you some words, you give us the first thought that comes to your mind. Always a fun way to get to know someone a little better.

Jody Conradt::legend

Pizza::pepperoni please

Would Woody Allen have turned out

so neurotic if he'd been born with

Woody Harrelson's looks?

Slumber Parties::birthday parties we had when we were in Jr high

Wikipedia::the life-invading encyclopedia... they might actually comment on the time I wake up tomorrow

Video Games::reason kids are obese... we played sports in the street growing up

Kevin Durant::wish I had met him... awesome athlete to have at UT

Woody Allen::Haha isn't he from Cheers?

Burnt Orange Nation::dedicated group of fans I have known about a lot longer than I lead on... hehe... thanks for the support!

Thank YOU, Cat, for taking the time to chat. This was a lot of fun. Keep making UT proud!

--PB--

Cat Osterman's back in the news, this time after being awarded the NCAA's most prestigious award for student athletes: the "Top VIII Award." The award, presented annually to eight student athletes, honors extraordinary accomplishments in NCAA athletics, community service, and leadership.

Osterman, a longtime BON favorite, is an Olympic gold medalist and the NCAA's all time strikeout leader. Congratulations to Cat for yet another impressive accomplishment. With the Top VIII honor, Osterman may have to be considered UT's greatest female student-athlete of all time.

Hook 'Em!

--PB--

What does BON Favorite Female Athlete Ever Cat Osterman have in common with David Wright, Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, Kerri Walsh and Padraig Harrington? As of this week, they're all ambassadors of the Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

As reported on Yahoo Business, Cat has signed a multiyear deal to represent Wilson ball gloves, DeMarini Fastpitch bats and ATEC training equipment. She will also "help with the design of new Wilson and DeMarini equipment including a signature line of Cat Osterman fastpitch gear."

Atta-Cat!

Terrific news for the Lady Horn who brought us great pleasure throughout the year for her Nintendo stat lines and that irresistable smile.

Buy Wilson Brand gear! Now!

Special thanks to you know who for pointing us to this story.

--PB--

Cat, Megan, and the girls open World Series play today tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. against Arizona State. The unofficial battle, of course, will be for Hottest Softball Team. Both teams are loaded.

The Lady Horns enter the tourney as the #3 seed overall.  Hook 'Em Horns!

Megan Willis, left, and the Lady Horns, will try to help Cat win a World Series

--PB--

Yes, we finally found Cat Osterman's MySpace page.

Cat Osterman labels this picture "Thug life." Uh, yeah.

And, sorry 54b, but your fantasies are officially squashed. She's not a lesbian...

And she's not single.

Cat Osterman labels this picture "Me and the boyfriend." We would have chosen "Bullet::54b's hopes"

Have fun boys and girls.

(And be nice and respectful.)

[Hat Tip to Adam for sending in the pointer.]

--PB--

Cat Osterman, left, with Coach Connie Clark and catcher Megan Willis(!), receiving their Big 12 awards.

Osterman was named Big 12 pitcher of the year for the fourth straight year, while Clark was named Coach of the Year, and Willis was named Defensive Player of the Year.

--PB--