15/04/2024 2 Minute Read

Olympian Greta Cecchetti reaches 2,000 strikeout milestone in Italian Softball League

The product of the Italian Academy also starred at Texas A&M University, the Japanese Diamond League, the Dutch Top League and Athletes Unlimited. Cecchetti has represented Italy 95 times, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. "I feel I was lucky enough to have opportunities and good enough to seize them."

Olympian Greta Cecchetti became the first pitcher to reach the 2,000-strikeout milestone in the Italian Softball League (or Serie A1) when she led Bollate to a sweep of Macerata on Saturday, 13 April. She added one strike out before the end of the game, raising her total to 2,001.

Cecchetti, 35, was already the all-time strikeout leader in Italy, ahead of Monica Corvino (1970) and Sun Yue Fen (1800). She debuted in the Italian top league in 2004.

Through 2021, she struck out 1,988 over 1,411 innings in 281 games. Greta played in the Japanese Diamond League ( Kyoto Galaxy Stars) and the Dutch Top League (Haarlem Sparks ) and joined Athletes Unlimited in 2022 and 2023. She returned to Italy and added the rest of the strikeouts in 2024.

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"I got my first strikeout in 2005, but I cannot remember against which team," Cecchetti told the WBSC. "That year, we beat Macerata in the final, and I got my 2,000th against Macerata. Collecting 2,000 in a Bollate jersey makes me proud."

Cecchetti grew up at the Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS) Academy. She became the first Italian-born and developed player to compete at the NCAA Division 1 level in the United States with Texas A&M and the first Italian to play in the Japanese Diamond League.

"I was a shy and insecure kid. I would have never thought I could accomplish this much. I am stubborn and a dreamer. Growing up, I became self-aware. I think I was lucky enough to get opportunities and intelligent enough to seize them. I added discipline and took care of details, aiming to the top. Hopefully, my accomplishments will open the way for more players."

Greta credits her family for the success she had.

"My parents helped me a lot and in different ways. My dad [Franco] taught me what it was like to be an athlete. My mom [Miriam Cerri] never commented on my playing. She only cared about me. My sister (Lara, five years her junior, was Greta's teammate for Bollate and the National Team) has shared with me wins and losses."

Cecchetti represented Italy 95 times internationally, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, however with the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals coming up in Italy in July, she won't reach the 100 mark having retired from international softball. "I took that decision and I came to terms with it."

However, she confirmed she will contribute to softball also after her playing career.

"I returned to Bollate as a player-coach. I like the dual role very much. I'm trying to give back to Bollate, the club where I grew up. I'm not sure how long I will be a player-coach, but I'm confident I will realize when it's time to retire [completely]."