Born in the sunshine of Southern California, a young Cathy Coupar found herself learning the fundamentals of softball, field hockey and soccer, as she tried to master the fundamentals of life. She learned to walk by shagging pop-ups?literally.

“I have three older sisters,” said Coupar, who began organized sports at the age of six. “I think my dad was hoping I was a boy.”

Nevertheless, Coupar continued to excel in athletics, finding her niche in both softball and soccer. Oddly enough, as she made the transition into Granada High School in Livermore, the former goalkeeper thought she would be net-minding in college, rather than roaming the pastures of the outfield.

“I wasn?t good until high school. I got all my skills and coordination when I got into high school,” said Coupar of her maturity on the diamond. “I thought I?d be playing soccer in college.”

After a soccer match forced Coupar to miss a very pivotal softball game, the then 15-year-old knew a decision and a sacrifice would need to be made. She could no longer handle the burden of two very demanding sports.

“When I was 15, I quit soccer and concentrated on softball,” Coupar said. “I stuck to softball year round.”

During her four-year run at Granada High School, Coupar achieved just about every award and accolade a prep softball player could in four varsity seasons. Although she was named All-League four consecutive years and All-County three years running, perhaps her greatest accomplishment was her appointment to the All-State team as a senior.

This year, Sac State?s softball team has been mired in an up-and-down season, buried in the center of the Big West pack, but Coupar has been a silver lining for them all year.After a nagging knee injury hobbled her during her first three seasons, the 2001 Capitol Classic All-Tourney selection has spent this year relocating some of her old habits, blistering pitchers and keeping the defense on its toes.

“Coupar has really come into her own as a ball player,” said Hornet head coach Kathy Strahan of her hard-hitting centerfielder, who has emerged as the team leader this season.

“Centerfield was a natural fit when we saw her playing confidently.”

In fact, the only hang-up for Coupar has been that confidence.

“Softball is so mentally challenging, especially when you suffer a setback like that,” Coupar said of the knee surgery that caused her to red-shirt her freshman year. “It was mentally challenging to get (my) skills and (my) confidence back.” Back being the operative word.

Since returning to full form this season, Coupar has enjoyed considerable success at the plate and in the field. Although a recent season slump has knocked her batting average down a little bit, she still ranks second on the team with an average of .290. As of late March, Coupar watched as her batting average of .417 mirrored that of baseball?s greatest hitters, and her childhood hero.

“Tony Gwynn is my idol,” said the left-hander, who was born in San Diego. “He is the best hitter of all-time. I grew up watching him. He is so amazing to me.”

Coupar ranks second on the squad in RBI (40), multi-hit games (11), hits (40) and total bases (44).

Statistics aside, Coupar has also evolved into both a defensive and offensive leader for Strahan?s bunch. But, while she?d like to admit that her play earned her that distinction, she realizes that her experience and age were ultimately the deciding factors.

“Andrea (Becker) and I are the oldest on the squad,” Coupar said. “When you?re the oldest, the responsibility kind of just falls on you.

“Plus, I?m really familiar with the coaches and their strategies,” she said. “It?s easy for me to help them out. I accept my role, even though it was handed to me.”

Don?t be fooled by her modesty, however, because Coupar savors her role as leader, just as she has at every level of play.

“On all the teams I ever played on, I always was a leader,” said Coupar, who began playing softball with the Chula Vista Bobby Socks when she was seven.

Her experience and leadership have made her very influential to many of her teammates, , especially freshman right fielder Amber Dragomir.

Dragomir, who missed fall training due to her commitment to the women?s soccer team, has found guidance and support in Coupar.

“She?s a great leader on the field. I was really nervous coming in and she took me under her wing,” Dragomir said. “She?s always keeping me in the game.”

And when it comes time to get it done on the field, Coupar steps it up, and lets her game do the talking.

“She?s also a great player,” Dragomir said. “She?s a big reason for the little success we?ve had this season.”

Although she is prepared to graduate this semester with a degree in kinesiology, Coupar has the opportunity to come back as a fifth-year senior; a prospect that intrigues both Coupar and Strahan.

“I?m so lucky to have another year to achieve what I want to achieve,” said Coupar, who feels that she is only beginning to leave a lasting impression on the Hornet program.

“We hope to have her a fifth year,” Strahan said. “I?m going to appeal to the NCAA?s and jump through those hoops.”

While the question of a fifth season with the Hornets remains to be answered, you can bet that softball won?t be too far extracted from Coupar?s life once she?s graduated and moved on. Coupar said that it is her dream to coach softball at the junior college level.”I really want to get into coaching,” Coupar said. “My ultimate goal is to coach at the junior college level.

“The majority of the girls want to continue on, and I want to help the girls at the junior college level make the transition and achieve their goals,” Coupar said. “Once you start playing softball at a competitive level, it?s every player?s dream to play at a Division I school.”

Now that she has firmly established herself in the Sacramento area, Coupar plans on making her first coaching endeavors right here, and with four junior colleges: Cosumnes, Sacramento City, American River and Sierra.

Sacramento may be hearing from Coupar for many years to come.