TOWSON, Md. – Holiday Cahill's prodigious power, awesome attitude, and wonderful work-ethic has mesmerized masses, set records and helped lift the Towson University softball program to unimaginable heights during a spectacular four-year career.
 
Now, the greatest show this side of Broadway delivers its final act on the Tiger Softball Stadium stage this weekend when Towson finishes its 2017 season against the College of Charleston in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action with a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
A two-time All-CAA first team selection, Cahill's dynamite career deserves to be celebrated and cherished. The curtain is dropping on Cahill's memorable home career. She will be saluted along with fellow seniors Carly DeLauder, Jessica South, and Caroline Reid before Saturday's game against Charleston.
 
Cahill has done almost everything during her marvelous career except sell hot dogs, update the website and line the softball field. She's preserved through pain while raising the bar of excellence for female athletes at Towson for her excellence in the classroom and brilliance on the softball field.
 
"I am honored to be part of a program that's so much bigger than myself," Cahill said. "Without the players here before me, there wouldn't have been any standards to break. My freshman year was when Missy (McCormick) and (Maureen Hepner) tied the home run record, it was cool to be part of. Then to be able to set the record as a sophomore was something amazing. Even cooler has been that in my time here, the home run record was tied, broken and broken again. It was cool to play with people who set and tied the record and then play with someone who broke my record. It's pretty cool."
 
Cahill is the only player in program history to be named USA Softball National Player of the Week, an honor she achieved after setting a single-game school record with three home runs and seven RBI's last season against Delaware. On that glorious overcast May afternoon, the perfect storm of determination, preparation and Cahill being locked in the zone neatly intersected to produce a performance for the ages.
 
Her 33 home runs are the most in Towson history. In addition, Cahill is second all-time in program history in runs batted in (129), fifth in career batting average (.349), sixth in walks (70), tied for ninth in doubles (37), 10th in hits (186), and 11th in runs scored (104).
 
Playing like a linebacker with fire and fury, Cahill has helped Towson win 122 games, including 30 or more in consecutive seasons, and participate in two CAA championship games. The Tigers won 37 games and finished 10th nationally in home runs per game following Cahill's junior season.
 
"There's a lot of emotions that are going through me," Cahill said. "I've had a lot of memories here that will last a lifetime. Without the coaches or my teammates, none of (those numbers) would be possible or the opportunity to play here at Towson."
 
One play from last weekend's game against UNCW perfectly illustrates Cahill's special essence as a player and a person. With the Tigers clinging to a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. Cahill was asked to attempt a suicide squeeze to help score an insurance run. It worked perfectly and Towson scored to extend its advantage to 4-2, which became the final score. She could've easily resisted the sign and tried to add to her home run total. Instead, Cahill did whatever it took to help the team and move the runner.
 
"Back when I was a young kid, it's always been about the team," Cahill said. "I've never been a selfish player. I've always tried to put my team first and whenever it mattered. I knew I had one job and that was to get Maddie (Wilson) home. It's moments like that which makes you realize there's more to the game than your stats."
 
Things haven't been easy for Cahill, who endured off season hip surgery and battled injuries last season. Cahill hasn't been 100 percent this season but she hasn't used any excuses or complained. She has spent time playing first base and catching this season.
 
She's 3,000 miles from home and got emotional when discussing her nieces and nephews. Cahill's ultimate goal is to become a paramedic.
 
"Leaving home and having my first niece was born a week before my senior year that put a little extra determination for me to do well this season," Cahill said. "I am already here and missing them growing up. When things got hard this year, I realized I had to keep going because I know I have somebody who is looking up to me. Coming back from surgery was one of the hardest things to do. I knew I had to push through and come back stronger after the surgery. Without (athletic trainer) Morgan (Skidmore), I wouldn't have been able to do half of what I did this season."
 
Cahill may be gifted when it comes to the rudiments of the sport, but it's her resiliency, perseverance, leadership, resolve and selfless attitude that has made her special and unforgettable.