National Champions with Cassie
Segment #10 from Our Lady of the Lake University
Transcript
It’s time to meet Cassie, a recent graduate from OLLU and current professional softball player, and NAIA World Series champion. Cassie is here to tell us all about her journey at OLLU and how it shaped her to be the champion she is today. Cassie, throwing it over to you. Take it away.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. I’m a transfer student and a softball player who came to Our Lady of the Lake University three years ago, looking for a fresh start. I lived a large NCAA division 1 university for a small NAIA school on the west side of San Antonio. I felt a sense of belonging right away. From supportive teammates and wonderful professors to the gorgeous chapel and beautiful green spaces, everything at OLLU seemed too good to be true. From day one until now, I’ve been surrounded by people who have helped me grow as a person and as an athlete. The experience has been like finding a second family. I joined the softball team at just the right time. We’ve become a national powerhouse. We advanced to the NAIA World Series last year for the first time in school history. We were eliminated after the first two games, which was disappointing, but my teammates and I vowed to come back strong, and we did. This year, we returned to the World Series, swept all four games, and won the national championship. It was amazing. I pitched all four games and got to be part of the first team at OLLU to win a national championship at any sport. The impact has been phenomenal. Frost Bank lit up its 23-storey downtown building in OLLU blue. Fans welcomed us home with the celebration on the OLLU softball field. The San Antonio mayor issued a proclamation declaring June 6th as OLLU Women’s Softball NAIA World Series Champions Day. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this or this. After the World Series, I signed a contract to play professional softball. OLLU has changed my life and I’m forever grateful. Now, back to you, Alex.
– Cassie, congratulations on your big win and your future career as a professional softball player. What an amazing day that must have been. Let us know when the next game is, and we are all coming to see you pitch. Thank you again for sharing your story.