by www.LSUsports.net, LSU Sports Interactive
BATON ROUGE -- As the LSU softball team continues to build toward a new season in the new Tiger Park, the program received an added boost on Thursday as head coach Yvette Girouard announced the signing of Rachele Fico, one of the nation’s top prep players.
Fico, a 5-8 right-handed pitcher from Oxford, Conn., has dominated the high school ranks for three seasons for Masuk High School as well as for her summer teams, the Stratford Brakettes, Connecticut Charmers, Stratford Breakers and the Gold Coast Hurricanes.
“The coaching staff and all Tiger softball fans will be thrilled with the signing of this highly talented student-athlete,” Girouard said. “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. She will represent the LSU Nation with class and athleticism.”
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 also pitched 71 shutouts, 35 no-hitters and 16 perfect games in her career.
Last season as a junior, Fico led Masuk to a perfect 27-0 record and the class LL state championship for the second-straight season as she pitched all 27 games to finish with a 27-0 record. Fico pitched 24 shutouts with 12 no-hitters and seven perfect games, including a stretch of five perfect games in a row. In 195 innings pitched, she tied the state record for strikeouts with 486 while only walking seven batters. Fico finished with a 0.07 earned run average, and opponents batted a paltry .036 against her.
For her summer teams, Fico holds an 83-3 record in 86 games. In 604 innings pitched, Fico has recorded 1,115 strikeouts, 72 walks and 27 earned runs for a 0.31 ERA. She has pitched 80 complete games, including 53 shutouts.
Throughout her career Fico has led every team she has been a part of to several titles. Masuk was SWC Conference Champions in 2006-08 and she was named the SWC Most Valuable Player all three seasons. Fico has led Masuk to back-to-back state championships her sophomore and junior seasons in 2007 and 2008, and she was named the Class LL State Tournament MVP both times. She is also a three-time member of the CIAC All-State Team from 2006-08.
She led her summer team to the 2007 Pony National Championship and was part of the champions of the 2007 18-and-Under Big League World Series. This past summer she was a member of the 18-and-Under Gold Coast Hurricanes Gold ASA National Championship team.
She was also a three-time New Haven Register All-State Team member from 2006-08 and was named MVP in 2007 and 2008. She was also a member of the Connecticut Post All-State Team in 2006-08 and was Co-MVP in 2006 and 2007 and MVP in 2008. The Connecticut Post named Fico the State Athlete of the Year last season. The Hartford Courant listed Fico on the all-state team from 2006-08, and she was named the Softball Athlete of the Year by the Courant in 2008.
Fico 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 standout 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. A hard-throwing, spot-hitting pitcher, Rachele is a likely candidate for Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. She has shown great ability for her summer team, too, since she led the Gold Coast Hurricanes to the national championships in the 18Gold.”
Fico is the daughter of Ralph and Leanore Fico.
