June 5, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - University of Texas left-handed pitcher Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas / Cypress Springs) and second baseman Lindsay Gardner (Katy, Texas / Katy) were named to the 17-player USA Softball Elite Team for 2002, as announced by USA Softball Tuesday.
Osterman and Gardner were chosen after competing in the Women?s World Championship Tryout Camp from May 30-June 2 in Chula Vista, Calif. Of the 60 participants at the camp, 17 were selected to the World Championship Team - the USA?s premier team and 17 to the Elite Team. The Elite Team will help prepare the 2002 World Championship Team for upcoming international events by competing in scrimmages and exhibition games. In addition, the Elite Team will compete at the Canada Cup in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on July 12-21.
In 2002, Osterman, as a rookie, and Gardner, a junior, teamed to lead the Longhorns to their first-ever Big 12 regular-season title, second Big 12 Tournament title and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. Texas concluded its season with its best-ever record at 50-13 overall and 17-1 in league play.
Osterman (36-8, 0.83 ERA), who was a top 10 finalist for the inaugural USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, finished the year 36-8 with a 0.83 ERA and 554 strikeouts. She sits second on the NCAA single-season strikeout list while become the only freshman pitcher in history to collect over 500 in her initial season. Osterman hurled five no-hitters, including three perfect games. In addition, she shattered a number of UT single-season records, including strikeouts, wins (36), innings pitched (304.1), games started (40), appearances (51), shutouts (17), consecutive scoreless innings (60.1) and consecutive innings without allowing an earned run (79.2). She already in second on the Texas career lists in strikeouts and ERA while ranking third in wins, shutouts and complete games.
In addition, Osterman was named All-Midwest Region First Team, Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, NCAA Region V All-Tournament Team and Big 12 Tournament Most Valuable Player. The Houston native became the first freshman in UT softball history to be named Big 12 Player or Pitcher of the Week when she received the honor on Feb. 19 for throwing two no-hitters. She then went on to collect Big 12 Pitcher of the Week seven times during the season, the most by an player in a season in the league?s seven-year history. Osterman also was a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week selection.
Gardner, who was a 2002 All-Midwest Region First Team and All-Big 12 Second Team selection, returned from an injury-shortened season in 2001 to lead the Longhorns in batting average (.332), hits (69), runs scored (42), doubles (13) and multi-hit games (18). She was second on the team with 20 stolen bases while setting a new UT single-season mark for at bats (208). Gardner capped off her junior campaign by finishing second on UT?s single-season list for runs scored, hits and doubles while tying for third in stolen bases. Through three seasons at UT, Gardner ranks first on the career lists in batting average and on-base percentage while ranking in the top five in nine other categories. She also was a 2000 NFCA All-America Second Team selection.