Softball pitcher signs with LSU

• Advocate news services
• Published: Nov 14, 2008 - UPDATED: 7:03 a.m.

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The LSU softball program landed one of the nation’s top players Thursday with the signing of pitcher Rachele Fico.

Fico, a 5-foot-8 right-hander from Oxford, Conn., has dominated the high school ranks for three seasons for Masuk High School, pitching her team to back-to-back state titles.

Her summer teams — the Stratford Brakettes, Connecticut Charmers and Gold Coast Hurricanes — have also dominated.

“The coaching staff and all Tiger softball fans will be thrilled with the signing of this highly talented student-athlete,” LSU coach Yvette Girouard said in a university news release. “This young woman comes from a tight-knit, softball-loving family. Rachele will be a difference maker for the Tiger softball program on the field and in the community.”

Entering her senior season of high school, Fico has a career record of 80-2 as a starter with 1,387 strikeouts and a career earned run average of 0.06. She has pitched 71 shutouts, 35 no-hitters and 16 perfect games. She has earned multiple all-state honors three straight seasons.

Last season, Fico led Masuk to a 27-0 record and the Class LL state championship for the second straight year, earning the decision in all 27 games and repeating as the state tournament most valuable player.

Fico pitched 24 shutouts with 12 no-hitters and seven perfect games, including a stretch of five consecutive perfect games.

She tied the state record for strikeouts with 486 in 195 innings, walking only seven batters. Fico finished with a 0.07 earned run average, and opponents batted a paltry .036 against her.

Fico has an 83-3 record in 86 summer-league games. In 604 innings pitched, she has recorded 1,115 strikeouts, walked 72 and allowed 27 earned runs for a 0.31 ERA. She has pitched 80 complete games, with 53 shutouts.

She led her summer team to the 2007 Pony national championship and was part of the champions of the 18 and Under Big League World Series in 2007.

In the summer, she was a member of the 18 and Under Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold ASA National Championship team.

Fico, the Hartford Courant’s softball athlete of the year, garnered Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2008 and was also named a 2008 First Team Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-American and a 2008 First Team EA Sports All-American.

“Rachele is one of, if not the most, prized pitching standouts in the country for this signing class,” Girouard said. “Rachele was recruited by just about everyone and her decision came down to Alabama and LSU.