2016 Combined

Caft:doni::'s Obman signs with East Central C.C. - The Dispatch

there to block it or catch it. She said earning the defensive honor last season was one of ber proudest moments because it showed people recognized all of the bard work she bas put into becoming a great catcher. She said her parents, especially her father, Joel, have helped inst.ill in her a desire to be the best. Sbe said that mentality motivated her to pursue her dream to play softball in college. "I have always wanted to be the best," Ohman said. "1 haYe always bad that passion. It really comes from my dad. He made me want to be perfect all ofthe time. I ha,·ejust worked my hardest to get there." Obman acknowledges that being perfect "is almost impossible," but she said it is better to set her goals at that le,·el so she always is pushing herself. Sbe knows she will have to ha'-e that same attitude later this year when she becomes a member ofthe ECCC program. Ohman will join Heritage Academy pitcher Kaitlyn Oswalt, who signed with ECCC last week. In 2015, ECCC finished 48-14 and was the runner-up at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Championship. It finished second in the South Division ofthe Mississippi Association ofCommunity and Junior Colleges (MACJC), second in the MACJC State tournament, and second in the NJCAA Regfon 23 tournament. "I didn't know much going into the visit, but it was amazing," Ohman said. "The way (coach Kristin Chaney) described their program just clicked. I knew from that point that is where I wanted to be. They are the hardest workers. I hope we can surpass the record they bad last year and become No. l in the nation." Tony Knight, wbo has coached Obman with the Mississippi Express, a travel ball team based out of Tupelo, said Ohman, who plays on the 18-U A Class team, likely could play in college this season. He said sbe plays catcher So percent ofthe time and also plays third base "itb the Mississippi Express. Knight said Ohman has honed her skills as a catcher and bad no trouble transitioning to doing what she needed to do at the travel ball level. "A lot of kids like to bit the home run and like to steal bases and make a big, outstanding catch,• Knight said. "Cassie's big thing is she wants to be the best blocker of any catcher she has ever seen. With that kind ofdesire and motivation from "itbin, it has made her a lot better. "She not only is a competitor in her own right, she also is a competitor for her teammates. She enjoys seeing them make great plays. She enjO)'"S a "in, but she wants to "in playing the best she can play. That is kind of what makes her stand out." Knight said Obman is so good defensively because she gets to her knees so quickly. He said Ohman probably bas the best footwork ofany catcher he has coached in 11 years in travel ball. Knight said Obman learned how to throw runners out from her knees. He said she didn't have the confidence to do it consistently last year, but he said she worked through it and improved, so be anticipates her throwing a lot ofrunners out. 'When a pitcher knows they can throw one in the dirt and they know it is not going to the backstop, they have more confidence," Knight said. "It makes them pitch better. They know she is going to get in front of it and keep it from getting to the backstop." Blocking balls like that comes naturally to Ohman. After all, it is something she has been working at for years because she knows her ultimate goal is elusive. That hasn't stopped her from trying to be perfect, though, and she said she doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. Fonner Oak Hill Academy standout Maegen Ellis was a freshman on ECCC's 2015 softball team. Ohman said she doesn't know Ellis, but she has played travel ball with Oswalt, so she is excited about her future. Knight said that is another part of Obman's game that pitchers should love.

.. _ _.,.. .

"Perfect is almost impossible, but that is the end goal. That is what we are all striving for," Ohman said. "If you're not playing to "in, there really is no reason to be pla)'ing at all.

:RAT _ ___ ___

"I want to be perfect. It is hard, and it seems impossible sometimes, but when I finally get there -- if I get there - it "ill be amazing." IMES

---------~

Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on 1\•itter@ctsportseditor

-Y JOURNAL --------

Adam Minichino is the Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.

om~~ i Ge\ \ ~o\\l\'\· ?XJ\.,L lCVY\