Redshirt junior second baseman Pate Cathey is making an impact on the diamond for the Miners softball team. This season, Cathey has four home runs and 24 run’s batted in. Defensively, Cathey is averaging around a 1.000 on fielding.
Other accomplishments include Conference-USA All Freshman team in 2019, Conference-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll 2019, 2020, 2021, and finally, Conference-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal 2020, 2021. Cathey is originally from Frisco, Texas, and attended Heritage High School while playing just about every sport possible, with softball being the last sport she played in high school.
“I started off with soccer, went (to) basketball, soccer, volleyball, track & field, gymnastics and lacrosse, all the sports with softball being the last sport I would play in high school,” Cathey said.
This season, Cathey has been doing strong in helping the team get some wins. This year, she has started 37 games. Where as last season, she started 44 out of 45 games.
When asked about what gave the coach confidence to put her in the starting lineup, this is what Cathey had to say.
“My work ethic, just continuing to try to bring my best, and not let anyone outwork me,” Cathey said. “People can count on me, on my attitude, and my effort.”
In the four years Cathey has been here, she has enjoyed her time at UTEP, and has overcome challenges and setbacks especially through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have definitely enjoyed living in El Paso. It has become a second home to me and I can definitely see myself staying here,” Cathey said. Cathey discussed the struggles she faced during quarantine and how it changed the plan she originally had.
“I wouldn’t change it for anything because those road blocks and setbacks or challenges that do happen,” Cathey said. “You know responding with those to positive outlooks and knowing all of those things are beneficial not just for the team.”
With a consistent high percentage in batting and base running, Cathey explains how she puts in the work to have those kinds of stats and makes herself a better overall player.
“I think just over the years I have found more the importance of like intentional hard work, rather than just going spending hours kind of without having your mind involved. For softball specifically, there’s a lot of preparation as far as the pitchers you’re going to face, the team you’re going to face, the strengths and weaknesses there are,” Cathey said.
Daniel Alec Lopez is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected].
