Two Months into My Adventure

My Italian adventure has been everything I expected and more. It is great being able to take in the Italian culture and learning to call Caserta my home. It all started about a year ago in my final semester at Siena when Coach Deanna Parks asked me if I had any Italian heritage. Some of her contacts in the Italian Professional League were looking for a catcher who could possibly play at that level. She believed I could. Once I told her that my great-grandparents on my mother’s side were born in Italy, the next thing I knew I was getting emails and a phone call from an odd looking number. It was a friend of hers who had been coaching professional softball in Italy. Tony told me about the Italian Softball League and that one of the southern teams was looking for a catcher. He explained to me that if I could gain dual-citizenship via jure sanguinis I could play in the league. I began to trace my roots immediately; roots that I knew were there but never learned much about in detail. Once I was able to trace my family tree on my mother’s side, I knew I would be able to acquire the documents I needed to obtain a dual-citizenship. The process was lengthy and grueling, but I can honestly say now that it was well worth it. The owner of the team flew me out to Italy on October 1, 2008 for a week long "stage" or tryout to show my abilities on the field. The Caserta coaching staff was very pleased with my performances and told me I would be a great addition to the team if I could get my dual-citizenship in time. The head coach, Enrico, said I would be "the icing on the cake." I acquired dual-citizenship on January 30--just in time for my February 11 flight to Rome. I have learned more about my family and where I come from and I am so much more proud because of it. Some days I wake up and still cannot believe that I am here, living in Italy, living the dream, my dream. If someone were to have asked me a few years back what I would be doing at this time in my life, playing professional softball in Italy probably would not have been the answer. I am truly blessed to have been given such an amazing opportunity, one that many are never given throughout their athletic careers or lives. I have Coach Deanna Parks to thank. Without her reputation and network of softball contacts, my softball career would have concluded as a Division I player and as a Siena Saint.

Pre-Season in Malta:My new team, D.E.S. Caserta, began our training in Malta, an island nation south of Sicily on February 16. Everyone asks me what "D.E.S." stands for. It is Dasty Ecological Services, the name of owner of the team's company. The team had a regimen of extensive weight-training and conditioning, integrated in with our every day softball practices. It was rough; but the warm, sunny weather was a welcomed relief in preparing for the season. The owner of our team and coaches believed it would be best for us to start our season early in an attempt to get a head start on the other teams in the Italian Softball League. It was still winter in Italy, so going south would make this pre-season preparation possible. We practiced and trained in the mornings and went sight-seeing in the afternoons and evenings. We worked hard at practice and really took advantage of the good weather. It was a very successful and productive week. Our team was also able to bond and get to know one another during our visits to the cultural sights around Malta.

Home Tournament: We concluded our pre-season with a tournament here in Caserta against the Spanish National Team and a professional team from Prague. We played in a round robin on Friday and Saturday, March 20-21. The weather was frigid and windy, barely reaching 3 degrees Celsius (about 37 degrees Fahrenheit). I was reminded of my time at Siena, opening up the season when there was still snow on the ground. I was lucky enough that weather would not affect my game. We beat Spain twice and Prague twice. We won all four games by the run-rule in less than seven innings. On that Sunday we played in the championship game against Prague. They gave us a good game, but we came out on top winning 4-0. I caught three of the five games, played third in another game, and pinch hit in another game.

League Games: I expected to be thrown right into the mix of things upon arrival in Caserta. My expectations have been met to the fullest. I have been splitting time at catcher, holding my own defensively and coming around on offense. Our pitchers have a lot of faith in me, which is great to see so early in the season. My team meshes extremely well, which only adds to our chemistry and poise on the field. We are 6-2. We have been playing well, but I know that we have yet to reach our peak. Our regular season ends on July 11 and playoffs start on August 29 and end in September. We have already seen some of the toughest pitching in the world. We have faced and will face a few well-known Olympians and top college pitchers. We also play against many past and present Olympic players.

My Schedule: Now that the season is in full swing, we are practicing about four days a week, lifting and conditioning twice a week. We play double-headers every Saturday night at 6 and 8:30pm. We then have off on Sundays and Mondays. That leaves me some time to travel. My schedule has already allowed me to visit Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii, Amalfi, and the Amalfi coast. I also plan to visit Assisi and Siena, for obvious reasons. I will then make my way to Cosenza and Sicily, where my great-grandparents lived.

A typical day: I am usually awoken by the neighbor’s yelping dog in the front yard. Some days I cannot hear him through my earplugs and other days the noise combines with the smell of my roommate’s delicious Italian coffee coming from the kitchen to wake me up. I climb down from my bunk bed and immediately head to the kitchen to make breakfast. I have adapted to the Italian culture in many ways. However, I have not given into the sweet breakfast that the locals are used to. The Italians consider café or cappuccino and a croissant a full breakfast. I still like my eggs, omelets, or cereal for breakfast. It is still the most important meal to me. After breakfast I get dressed and like to take a walk around town. There are so many stores, shops, and delis in walking distance of my apartment. The weather has been getting nicer every day, so I like to take advantage of a sunny day. I like to walk around the corner to the “fruit oasis” where I buy fresh fruits and vegetables at least once a week. Another one of my favorite places is the mozzarella di bufala deli. I have become good friends with the owner. He greets me whenever he sees me walking around town. Once I have taken my daily walk I like to come home and relax the rest of the day before evening practice. There is a small balcony outside my bedroom where I like to pull up a chair and read. I have a lot of free time during the day so I like to spend it catching up on emails to my family and friends, writing in a journal, learning Italian, planning my future, watching movies with my roommates, and getting to know my roommates even better. We really are living the life!

I was never much of a coffee drinker in the States. But now that there is a bar (a coffee/pastry shop) on every corner here, I feel compelled to grab a €.70 cappuccino (about $.90) every now and then. It really is delicious. I like to go to new cafes just so I can meet and talk to new people. Everyone is so friendly. They can tell I am American, but they are still welcoming. Most of the time I get the chance to correct them and let them know that I am actually an Italian-American.

The Italian Language: The language barrier was the toughest part of moving here from the States. Since then I have picked up on a lot, and can understand most of my teammates and coaches. I am really good at listening and comprehending. Now, I just have to work on reciprocating. I am eager to learn and to be able to communicate here, so it is nice to see that my Italian teammates are willing to help me. I have been using Rosetta Stone as well to help enhance my learning. I am hoping to be somewhat competent in the language by the time my adventure is over.

Luckily, I was unaffected by the earthquake that devastated the central Italian city, L’Aquila, on Monday, April 6. The city is approximately two hours north of Caserta, where I reside. It was sad to hear and read about the devastation and wreckage the earthquake caused. On April 11, during our games versus Macerata, we took a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives, families, and homes in the earthquake.

Volunteer Work: I have been given a wonderful opportunity to help out the nearby Naples High School softball team for the last month. They are a group of girls from the U.S. Navy Support Base just 30 minutes south of my apartment. My teammates and I have been helping out at practices at least once a week. The coaches, girls, and their families come to watch us at our home games, just as we go to watch them whenever our schedule allows. It is nice to be able to get into coaching, especially because the girls are willing to listen and learn. Coaching is something I know I will enjoy in the future. It feels extremely rewarding to be able to give back to the community and be a part of an American-based high school here in Italy.

For those who are interested in following the rest of our season, you can visit the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation website: fibs.it.

I would like to extend my appreciation and thanks to those who have helped me along the way. This is an incredible finale to my long, successful career as an athlete. Without the guidance and support of my family, friends, coaches, teammates, and teachers I would not be where I am today. You have helped me reach my goals and fulfill my dream. I am truly blessed.