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SPECIAL FEATURE (Dec. 2, 2024) – In late November, the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team welcomed Sister Mary Jo Sobieck to campus for the taping of a story that will be aired on Catholic TV of San Antonio (CTSA). CTSA staff initially planned to tape the segment at the Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium, home of the San Antonio Missions, a Minor League Baseball team that competes in the Texas League as the Double A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. However, plans were diverted to OLLU because of their success as NAIA National Champions.

Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, also known as "Sister Strike," is a baseball enthusiast who captured the attention of millions of fans and the country in 2019. The "Don't Sleep on Sister Mary Jo's curveball" was nominated for an ESPY award in the "Best Viral Sports Moment." The ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) are an annual sports awards ceremony honoring memorable people and moments in sports.

The "Don't Sleep on Sister Mary Jo's curveball" occurred in August 2018 when Sister Mary Jo threw a curveball strike to Lucas Ciolito at the ceremonial opening of a Chicago White Sox game. Her unique style, in which she bounces the ball off her forearm and throws the curveball, sent fans into a frenzy, and the moment went viral, capturing the attention of baseball fans on social media and national media. Her strike also appeared on ESPN's Sportscenter highlight reel.

Sister Mary Jo's popularity even garnered her a bobblehead that is sold at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee.  The bobblehead has her standing in a pitching stance, wearing a baseball jersey pulled over her habit, and a baseball mitt. Her right hand is cocked back with a baseball, ready to strike. In addition, Topps also sells a Sister Mary Jo baseball card that is available on Amazon.

There's a reason Sister Mary Jo, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Ill., seems so comfortable on the pitching mound. She played softball starting in elementary school and through college and has coached high school sports.

Having Sister Mary Jo in San Antonio is a unique experience. She is participating in a Spanish immersion program through May 2025 and is known for her friendliness toward her fans. She made it a point to meet every member of the Saints squad, expressing her admiration for their accomplishments that led to the NAIA National Title in 2024 – a first for OLLU. Sister Mary Jo gathered the team in a circle, engaging in personal conversations and promising to return in the spring to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at one of the games.

Prior to her one-on-one conversations with the team, Sister Mary Jo fielded and batted for the CTSA crew, with every move captured by a drone and standard video equipment. She threw the ball with graduate student Alyssa Flores, who is a catcher. She had a long conversation with NAIA Pitcher of the Year Cassandra Valdez, who just signed up to play with the Mexican Women's National Softball Team this December in Puerto Rico. The two promised to keep in touch and follow each other on Instagram, creating a personal connection that will last beyond her visit.

Watch Sister Mary Jo Sobieck throw her curveball