May 25, 2015 4 min read

In the old Abbott and Costello comedy routine, the question was: “Who’s on first?”

For the Pennsylvania Rebellion softball team, the question is: “Who’s the catcher?”

The answer appears to be Mandy Ogle.

The University of Texas product should get the call when the Rebellion open their second season in the National Pro Fastpitch league Friday with a game against the Chicago Bandits at Consol Energy Park.

First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Ogle played in 41 games last season, but Taylor Edwards did most of the catching. In the offseason, Taylor Edwards and her sister Tatum were traded to the Bandits in a four-player deal that eventually brought in Kristyn Sandberg and Alexa Peterson of the USSSA Pride and draft picks.

Before the Rebellion signed her last year, Ogle led the University of Texas to the 2013 College Softball World Series as a junior and made only four errors in 1,326 chances as a senior. Her .997 percentage was the second best in school history.

Like the rest of the team, Ogle will have to impress first-year manager Craig Montvidas, who is the Dutch National Team coach, and was hired in January to replace Stacey Rice.

“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” said Ogle. “I’m out of the loop. We haven’t been told exactly what positions we are going to be playing. At practice, everyone is playing outfielder, everybody is fielding ground balls. There are only two catchers here right now and only two pitchers.”

Sandberg, who has caught, will be a late arrival because the team she coaches, LSU, was participating in the NCAA Division I softball tournament. Peterson has played a number of positions, including catcher.

“There is going to be four or five catchers on the roster this year,” said Ogle. “So there is going to be a battle to see who gets it. I would love to be there because that’s my main position. But anywhere on the field, I’ll be happy.”

Ogle is coming off a season in which she hit .228. She had three home runs and six RBI. She tied for the team lead with 21 walks.

Ogle, 5-5 with a slight build, started catching the way most players do.

“When you’re younger, everyone is sort of the same size,” said Ogle. “Starting out, that was my first position. I want to be in control of every play. I don’t want to be bored. Where else are going to get the much action than pitcher or catcher?”

Not that the Ogle family was surprised she chose that position. Ogle comes from a long line of catchers. Her brother, Tyler, was a 10th-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009. Tyler Ogle spent some time with their Class AAA affiliate in Albuquerque and is currently with their high Class A team in Rancho Cucamonga. He is hitting .226 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 35 games in the California League.

Ogle’s grandfather, Bill Ganem, was invited to the St. Louis Cardinals camp in the 1960s, but decided not to play.

Ogle will have some fresh faces in the circle this season and be playing under her third manager in two seasons with the Rebellion.

But she said her job is still the same.

“You’ve got to throw ball, you’ve got to block the ball,” she said. “Calling pitches? You usually leave that to the catcher. You know what you’re calling. You know the game. Coaches put the lineup together and these are such great athletes, you just let them do their job. I don’t have to change my style.”