« Softball 2013

Rachele Fico

School
Louisiana State
Position
Pitcher
Major
Sport Administration
FLD%
1.000
ERA
2.23
W-L
24-10

Classroom

Fico is a two-time member of the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll and was selected as one of three team captains for the 2013 season. She is majoring in sports administration with a commerce concentration and is scheduled to graduate in May 2014.

Character

Written by head coach Beth Torina:

“It’s truly a privilege to write on behalf of the character of Rachele Fico. I can’t say that I’ve ever come across a competitor like Rachele nor a person with such solid character, work ethic and integrity.

Rachele is such a selfless person, and the type of player that anyone would want in their dugout.  Last season our team gave her 12 total runs of support in her 13 losses. Never once did she point the finger, she simply asked what she could do to help the program succeed.  She never gives in on the mound. By outworking everyone on the team, she ensures that she never has to do so.  In this manner, she sets the example daily both on and off the field.  When she speaks the entire team listens; her actions command that type of respect.  She cares deeply about the success, not of herself, but of the entire LSU program.  She is often seen picking up a struggling teammate or encouraging those around her.

Rachele’s deepest battle is dealing with her father who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.  So many things she does are to make him proud while supporting her family as they navigate the disease.  Her character stands as a direct result of her connection to her family.  That connection drives her daily to represent her family name and the 3 letters on her chest with pride and integrity.”

Community

A native of Connecticut, Fico will honor the memory of the 26 victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by completing 26 “Random Acts of Kindness” with her teammates during the 2013 season.  She will blog about her experiences on LSUsports.net, and the team will have a board dedicated to the acts in their clubhouse. Starting March 13 after LSU’s tournament play is completed, the 26th fan to enter Tiger Park during each home game will receive a ticket upgrade. Each player also will wear a sticker on their batting helmet protesting “Random Acts of Violence” during the season.

Competition

Fico, a 2012 NFCA All-American First-Team and USA Softball Top 25 Player of the Year Finalist, is coming off the second 20-win season of her career. She already has collected 2013 All-SEC Preseason Team accolades and was named to the 2013 USA Softball Top 50 Watch List. Fico’s stifling 1.12 ERA and 13 shutouts last season ranked fourth and fifth in the nation, respectively. She picked up NCAA College Station Regional and NCAA Columbia Super Regional MVP honors as LSU secured its third trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012. Fico received only 10 total runs of support during her 13 losses, 12 of which came versus RPI Top 35 teams. Seven of those setbacks came by either 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 decisions. For her career, Fico has recorded 54 career victories fueled by 22 shutouts during her three seasons with the Tigers. The Connecticut native enters her senior season 35 Ks away from becoming the fifth pitcher in program history to reach 600 career strikeouts.