Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

Katie Doerre has spent her high school softball career traveling the nation. She is gone so much that she sometimes forgets what her own bed feels like.

“I’ve been traveling pretty much all summer for four years,” Doerre said. “(Recently she spent) one week at Gold Nationals in Oklahoma, where I had a full week there and came home for one day, before I got on a plane to go California for a week.”

That dedication has earned Doerre a spot at Texas State University as a catcher, as well as recognition as one of the best softball players ever at Tomball High School (THS).

Playing the sport since she was very young – “I started playing tee-ball when I was four.” --- Doerre found her calling as a catcher early in life.

“I started off at third base and the outfield and then one of the coaches, I think it was 10 and under (league), asked if anyone wanted to be the catcher because one was hurt, so I just put the gear on and went out there,” she said. “I’ve been catching ever since.”

Doerre describes herself as a take-charge catcher. She studies hitters tendency and calls pitch sequences based upon that study. She thrives on pressure.

“I’ve called every game in high school -- all four years,” she said. “I kind of taught myself how to when I was younger and then one of the main people to help was my tournament coach, Richard Bass. He had me mirror one of the older catchers when I was a freshman.”

“I want to be the person to win the game, or on the defensive side to make a play at the plate,” she added.  “I love those moments.”

Now heading off to college, Doerre said it will be an adjustment, but she has other goals, including hopefully making the U.S. national team someday.

“That’s been a goal of mine since I was a little kid,” she said. “They took it out (of the Olympics) and it was kind of a bummer, but there is talk of them bringing it back for 2016, which would be perfect because it’s my senior year.”

She chose Texas State, she said, because it felt like family.

“It seemed like they really, really wanted me,” Doerre said. “They pursued me the hardest. They started looking at me when I was a freshman. I like the town a lot. My parents told me it’s not just about softball it’s about what you want to do and they have my degree plan, which is physical therapy.”

Doerre said that her career choice wasn’t her father’s -- Tomball Police Cpt. Rickey Doerre -- first choice.

“Dad wanted me to be an FBI agent or wildlife,” she said laughing.

She credits her father for his help along the way as her first coach.

He has done so much for me,” she said.

As for her favorite memories of playing at Tomball?

“It was junior year and we were playing Pearland, a really intense game and we were tied with runners at first and second,” Doerre said. “I was at bat and I had gotten a really bad strike call on me at my ankles. Then the pitcher throws me an outside rise ball and I took it yard to the opposite field.”

The competition isn’t the only thing Doerre said she will miss.

“Tomball is really supportive of their sports teams and I’ll miss that, but I’ll really miss the girls. The team is like family and we are all splitting up.”

Doerre said that while her high school chapter is now over, she wouldn’t change a thing.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better career.”