Erika Piancastelli
Catcher/third baseman
Born: (1996-06-20) June 20, 1996
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Teams
Medals
Women's softball
Representing  Italy
Women's Softball European Championship
Gold medal – first place2019 OstravaTeam
Gold medal – first place2021 Castions di StradaTeam
Silver medal – second place2017 BollateTeam

Erika Piancastelli (born June 20, 1996) is an Italian-American professional softball catcher. She plays international softball for Italy and competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[2][3] Born in Italy, Piancastelli eventually went to play college softball at McNeese State, where she holds multiple career records.

She is the Southland Conference leader in RBIs, home runs, doubles, slugging percentage and walks, and achieved a rare feat as the four-time conference Player of The Year. She is one of the elite NCAA Division I softball hitters to amass a .400 batting average, 200 RBI, 75 home runs and an .800 slugging career.[4] She played in the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Softball league.[5]

Early life and education

Born in Modena, Italy, Piancastelli moved to Carlsbad, California with her family at age five. Her mother is Loredana Auletta, an Italian softball player who competed as a catcher and third baseman on Italy's 2000 Summer Olympic team.[6] Erika graduated from Carlsbad High School in 2014.[7][8] She attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[4] With the McNeese State Cowgirls softball team, she debuted on February 6, 2015 in a win against Florida Gulf Coast, with a 2/4 performance with a double and a RBI.[9] She would earn conference Freshman and Player of The Year accolades and was recognized Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after leading the team in hits, average, RBIs, home runs, doubles and slugging, the homers were a new school record and her hits and average career bests.[10][11] On March 6, Piancastelli hit two home runs to drive in a career-best 5 RBIs against the Sam Houston State Bearkats.[12]

In her sophomore campaign, Piancastelli earned her second conference and NFCA honors.[13][14] She broke the school records for home runs, slugging and walks, all career highs, the latter stat also set the conference standard. Beginning on March 3–18, the cowgirl went on an 11-consecutive-game hit streak batting: .469 (15/32) with 18 RBIs, 6 home runs, four doubles, 6 walks and slugging 1.687%.[15] Later, she would set a single game McNeese record with 5 walks on April 16, in a defeat of the Northwestern State Demons.[16] She would achieve a second single-game highlight for hits with a perfect day at the plate on May 13 against the Lamar Cardinals, with a 4/4 performance.[17]

As a junior, she earned her third Player of The Year for the Southland and set a career best with 26 stolen bases. Piancastelli joined an elite club by collecting her 50th career home run in only her third year on April 21 vs. the Lamar Cardinals, striking off pitcher Amie Cisneros for an eventual victory.[18] For a final year, Piancastelli was awarded her fourth and last Player of The Year honor. She set her last records with career-best RBIs and doubles. On April 27, Piancastelli tallied her 200th career RBI in a 5–0 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, hitting a solo home run in the first inning.[19]

Piancastelli currently owns nearly all offensive career records for the Cowgirls, not including hits and triples.[20] She is the Southland leader in RBIs, home runs, doubles, slugging and walks.[21] In all of the NCAA, she ranks 7th in walks and slugging for her career.[22]

Team Italy

Piancastelli competed at the Tokyo Games for Team Italy. She had two hits and drove in a run for the team that ended up placing sixth at the games.[23] Piancastelli followed in the footsteps of her mother Loredana Auletta, who competed in 2000 for Italy softball.

Statistics

[24]

McNeese State Cowgirls
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
2015 55 158 49 68 .430 54 18 1 19 143 .905% 35 18 17 21
2016 57 145 65 62 .427 49 22 1 15 145 1.000% 69 17 11 14
2017 61 160 56 60 .375 49 13 1 8 109 .681% 63 18 26 31
2018 62 168 58 63 .375 60 22 1 20 151 .899% 62 22 16 22
TOTALS 235 631 228 253 .401 212 75 4 62 548 .868% 229 75 70 88

[25]

Athletes Unlimited Softball
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB
2020 15 52 9 17 .327 15 9 0 2 46 .884% 3 7 0

References

  1. ↑ Cromwell, Carter (January 20, 2022). "Repping The Motherland; the Erika Piancastelli Story". Baseball Jobs Overseas. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Why Erika Piancastelli Is Loving Her Softball Experience In Italy". Flosoftball.com. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Game Summary / 試合概要 / Résumé du match / ITA 0 - 2 USA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Erika Piancastelli - 2018 Softball - McNeese State University". Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Former Cowgirl All-American Erika Piancastelli To Play In Athletes Unlimited Inaugural Season". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Former Cowgirl All-American Erika Piancastelli helps Italy earn spot in 2020 Tokyo Olympics". kplctv.com. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ Weathers, William (May 16, 2017). "McNeese State catcher Erika Piancastelli, a native of Italy, surpasses all of her expectations". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ...close-knit environment that reminded her of own family that moved from Modena, Italy, to California when she was 5.
  8. ↑ Salvini, Mario (April 21, 2016). "Erika, miglior fuoricampista negli Usa". La Gazzetta della Sport (in Italian). Retrieved June 27, 2018. Quando aveva 5 anni la famiglia si è resferita in California, a Carlsbad.
  9. ↑ "Softball Opens Season In Dramatic Fashion". Mcneesesports.com. February 6, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Piancastelli Named SLC Player, Hitter and Freshman of the Year". Mcneesesports.com. May 5, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2015 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS". Nfca.org. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Erika Piancastelli Homers Twice In Win Over Sam Houston State". Mcneesesports.com. March 6, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Piancastelli Named Southland Player and Hitter of the Year". Mcneesesports.com. May 9, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ "2016 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS". Nfca.org. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2016 Softball Schedule". Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Softball Clinches SLC Series Over NW State With DH Win Saturday". Mcneesesports.com. April 16, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ "No Doubt-Cowgirls are NCAA bound after 5-2 win over Lamar". McNeese State University Athletics.
  18. ↑ "Cowgirls Split DH With Lamar Friday". Mcneesesports.com. April 21, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Piancastelli Breaks Southland HR Record Flores Pitches A Gem, Cowgirls Clinch Tournament Berth". Mcneesesports.com. April 27, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  20. ↑ "2021 McNeese Softball Record Book" (PDF). Mcneesesports.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Southland Softball" (PDF). Southland.org. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Ncaa.org. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Piancastelli". Olympicssoftball.wbsc.org. July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Archived Team-By-Team Final Statistics". Ncaa.org. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Player Stats". Ausports.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
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