2006: For the third straight season, junior Kathy Masterson was Missouri's primary starter at catcher. Playing in 44 games and making 38 starts, Masterson collected 158 putouts and 36 assists from her work behind the plate making only two errors on the season. Masterson caught 10 runners stealing and made several saves at the plate. Masterson stood fourth among her teammates with her .353 on-base percentage and .407 slugging percentage. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 first team member with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Masterson scored 12 runs for the Tigers and drove in 13 RBI. Taking on Pacific in the fourth game of the season, Masterson went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two out, three run homer over the centerfield fence. With a .400 batting average, Masterson played strong defense recording five putouts and three assists. On Feb. 17, Masterson moved to the circle for the first time since high school. A righty, Masterson twirled 12.2 innings for the Tigers with her final outing coming April 18 against Southern Illinois. Honors: Academic All-Big 12
2005: Missouri's starting catcher in 51 of the Tiger's 55 games, Kathy Masterson totaled 309 putouts from her work behind the plate. In Missouri's fifth game of the season, Masterson recorded a season-high 13 putouts against Maryland on Feb. 18, at the Crimson Classic, accomplishing the task again March 25, against Oklahoma State in game one of a doubleheader. Masterson was one of three Tigers to rip three triples on the season (Feb. 18-Maryland, April 9-Texas Tech, April 27-North Dakota State) and smack six home runs in 130 at bats, the final shot coming May 13 against No. 24 Nebraska at the Big 12 Tournament. With 17 extra base hits, Masterson was fifth on the team with a .569 slugging percentage and held a .323 batting average. Masterson notched 10, two-hit games, four of which came against ranked teams (No. 10 Florida State, No. 6 Alabama No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 24 Nebraska). Five-of-seven in stolen bases, Masterson swiped her third bag of the season, April 17 against No. 4 Texas at home. Competing in her second Big 12 Tournament, Masterson held the team's highest batting average for the six game series (.400) and was 2-for-3 against Nebraska on May 13. Playing No. 22 Southern Illinois for the third time, Masterson hit a one-out double down the right field line, driving in two of Missouri's five runs in the third inning. Honors: Academic All-Big 12 First team with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, All-Big 12 Second Team.
2004: Taking on the roll of catcher for the first time of her softball career, Masterson started behind the plate in 24 consecutive games, totaling 297 putouts and shutting down seven attempts to steal. The most putouts Masterson accumulated in a single game was in the 14-inning win against Oklahoma State at home (26) on April 3. With a .991 fielding percentage, Masterson was a key contributor to Missouri's success on defense. Also strong offensively, Masterson led the team with four sacrifice bunts on the season (tied with teammate Sarah Stringer) and recorded a triple and three RBI against Oklahoma City, March 2. Masterson had two, two-hit games on the season (Arizona State, 3/10 and Baylor, 4/18) and slammed her first double of the year against No. 20 Baylor on April 18, with the second coming two games later against Iowa State. Masterson had Missouri's first hit and run scored in the Tigers' 13-inning game against Oklahoma in the semifinals of the Big 12 Softball Conference Championships on May 15. At catcher, Masterson tagged out two Sooners in one run-down play at third in the fifth inning to end an Oklahoma rally and keep Missouri in the game. Finishing her freshman year with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Masterson was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Academic All-America team. Honors: NFCA Academic All-American
Cor Jesu Academy: Coached by Noah Duncan at Cor Jesu Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, Masterson was a member of a team that placed fifth in the state both her senior and junior seasons. Masterson was a recipient of the Cor Jesu 110% athletic award and Most Valuable Player honors and was also a member of the All-Conference and All-District teams. In addition to softball, Masterson also competed in basketball, soccer and diving. She played club ball with the St. Louis Legion of Doom, coached by Dennis Dierkes.
Personal: Kathy Masterson was born Jan. 21, 1985, in St. Louis, Mo., to parents William and Mary Jo Masterson. Masterson is the sister of Mark (24) Dave (38) and Mike and is majoring in Engineering.
