Team Italy softball newcomer Alexia Lacatena adds pitching depth to U19 Azzurre roster

Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter will ask a lot from his pitching staff in the 2018 U19 Women's Softball European Championship in Staranzano, Italy from July 16-21, 2018. The Azzurre squad plays four games during the first two days of the international competition. The Italians face Spain in a matinee and battle Euro rival the Netherlands under the lights on July 16, 2018. Then Team Italy returns for two more games against Israel and Ukraine on the following day.

Enter Alexia Lacatena, a teenage pitching sensation with deep Italian family roots who just completed her first year at Lenape Valley Regional High School in New Jersey. One of Team Italy skipper Enrico Obletter’s secret weapons, Alexia Lacatena is a welcome acquisition on the Azzurre Junior Women’s roster. He said, "One newcomer is a very interesting pitcher in Alexia Lacatena, a recent addition to the U19 and U22 teams. Being only 15 says a lot about this kid who has verbally committed to the University of Kentucky for 2021."

Team Italy has a lot to be excited about because Alexia Lacatena, recipient of the 2017 USSSA Nationals MVP Award, is a workhorse who can pitch back-to-back games without fatigue or injury. In her freshman year at Lenape Valley Regional High School High School, Alexia Lacatena was impressive with a 23-4 record in 2018 with 285 strikeouts (10.6 per game) and a miniscule 0.93 ERA. Her strikeout (285) to walk (22) ratio was best in the state (12.95). Not only did set she a single season record for the most strikeouts, Alexia received the 2018 Lenape Valley Regional High School MVP Award and was named 2018 New Jersey Herald Co-Player of the Year. In addition, she was selected to the 2018 New Jersey Herald All-Area Team and the 2018 Group II All-State First Team. Expect more accolades to come for Alexia Lacatena as she shatters the record books and matures into one of the game's elite.

Alexia Lacatena would have registered two perfect games this year, but because of some defensive miscues her two dazzling pitching performances were downgraded slightly to two no-hitters. The young Italian American can also swing the bat. On April 24, 2018, Alexia Lacatena hit for the cycle to lead Lenape Valley to a 12-0 shutout over High Point. In addition to pitching a complete game two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and no walks, she went 4-for-4 completing the cycle with three RBI and three runs scored. Alexia’s pitching arsenal includes the fastball, change-up, drop/drop-curve, and curve/rise-ball. Her favorite pitch is the drop-curve because usually it results in a strikeout looking or a groundout. She currently pitches in the low to mid 60s depending on the pitch.

Knowing the importance of her traditional southern Italian family roots, Alexia credits her Italian heritage as playing a huge role in her success. Her mother was born in Italy and lived in Locorotondo, Bari, while her father was born in Paterson, New Jersey, but grew up in Alberobello, Bari. Their family has a house in Locorotondo, and they try to visit often. The first family member to play for Team Italy was her oldest sister Maria Lacatena, who is seven years older than Alexia and is largely responsible for her love of softball as a child in the stands. But middle sister, Milena Lacatena and coach/father Dominic Lacatena were equally as important to inspire her to play the game to the best of her ability.

Encouraged by her progress and development, Dominic Lacatena reached out to Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter to see if Alexia could try-out in front of Azzurre pitching coach Lisa Birocci Banse in Pennsylvania. The coaching staff liked how Alexia pitched and invited her to the U19 softball camp in Caserta, Italy. Since then, she has been playing for the Caserta Baseball Softball Academy.

Alexia Lacatena has come a long way from her early playing days as an eight-year-old in the local Tee Ball League in Byram, New Jersey. Since she was a young girl, it was Alexia’s dream to work hard so that she would be able to play softball at a higher level--whether through college, professionally, or even at the Olympics. When Alexia was playing for the local travel softball team as a child, she wanted to try to pitch. As soon as she tried it, Alexia liked it so much that she started taking pitching lessons. Pitching has always been her favorite thing to do since the first time she tried it. When not pitching, she is still involved in the game and supports her team whether on the field or in the dugout. In terms of personal and professional influences, Alexia considers herself blessed to have had many people influence her including her parents, her sisters who played competive softball before her, her coaches, and her teammates. She feels that all of these people played some part in shaping who she is today as a softball player.

Alexia is looking forward to the U19 Euro Championship and being able to wear the Italian jersey to play against different countries. She is going into this championship as she does in every other game with the confidence of playing her game, trusting the skills she has gained, and having fun executing the game plan. It is a unique opportunity, which she wants to live to its fullest. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti