There haven’t been any Rachele Fico sightings in this once quaint Connecticut town in a long time. Since the softball pitching phenom moved on from a career at Masuk High School, which included two state championships (2007,2008) and statistical numbers which were staggering in nature, she’s rarely been back.
At least not until now.
Fico will return to the Nutmeg State on May 17 to receive a Gold Key from the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance at the organization’s 83rd dinner set for the Aqua Turf in Southington.
“When I received the call, I was floored,” said Fico, a 2010 Hank O’Donnell Female Athlete of the Year winner. “I remember that dinner and the people who got Gold Keys. This is a great honor. I’m looking forward to seeing lots of old friends and teammates.”
Only two other softball players, both pitchers and each one nationally acclaimed, have been so honored. The late Joan Joyce (1974) and Berta Ragan Tickey (1982) pitched for one of the country’s most-well known teams — the then Raybestos Brakettes.
Ironically, Fico hurled for parts of several seasons during the summer for what became known as the Stratford Brakettes.
Several of her teammates — Alyssa Pagano and Chaise Courban — along with former head coach Jacqui Sheftz and her assistant, Mark Dempsey, will be in attendance.
“Rachele didn’t play the game of softball. she dominated it,” Sheftz said. “From the high school fields to the college stage, her career was defined by relentless work, unshakable confidence and a level of excellence that set the standard for every pitcher who followed her.”
And Sheftz saw it all first hand.
Fico amassed a 105-3 won-lost record while striking out 1,884 batters in 775 innings with a national-record 26 perfect games, including five in a row. She was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year and was selected to both the NFCA and EA Sports All-American teams.
The standard line during her high school years was the outfielders could take folding chairs with them because few if any batted balls would reach them.
Her path to LSU where she had 104 starts and pitched 774 innings wasn’t a direct one. On a recruiting visit to the University of Alabama with her late father, Nick, the pair saw the Tigers’ visiting bus. So struck by it, Fico accepted an invite to LSU and wound up there.
In her first season (2010) she was selected as the Southeast Conference (SEC) freshman of the year and four seasons later, her numbers were strong enough to make her an All-American. In one game against Mississippi State she struck out a school record 22 batters.
After graduating in 2013, Fico was drafted by the Akron Racers of the National Fast-Pitch Softball League.
She moved to Georgia after her pro career was over and served as a pitching coach at both Georgia University and West Alabama. Fico then turned to education on the high school level and now works at Douglas, Ga. High School as a special education teacher.
“I find my work very rewarding,” Fico said. “Being in the classroom every day and being with kids feels just right for me.”
So will accepting a Gold Key on May 17.
Tickets for the Gold Key dinner are $80 each and can be purchased by check or on Venmo at John-Holt-437. Make checks payable to the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance, CSMA and mail them to CSMA, P.O. Box 3234, Enfield, CT, 06083. List the honoree’s name on your check. More information about the dinner can be found on the Alliance’s website, ctsportswriters.com.
Peter Vander Veer is a veteran sportswriter whose work used to appear in the Monroe Courier. He presently serves as the Alliance’s president.
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