OMAR NEGRIN / THE REPORTER
Pitcher Chiara Biasi has traveled nearly five thousand miles to stand on the Lady Sharks’ mound for the 2018 softball season.
The freshman from Turin, Italy has started in four out of five games that she has pitched. Biasi is 1-3 with a 5.34 earned run average and a .214 batting average. She is trying to turn her struggling team’s 11-25 season around.
Biasi started playing softball when she was seven years old and was first drawn to the sport when she saw the field.
“I said ‘buono [all right]’ and I started to play,” Biasi said.
While playing for La Loggia softball club, Biasi decided to pursue an education and an athletic career in the United States after graduating from her high school, Liceo Scientifico I.I.S. Norberto Bobbio.
She first reached out to Miami Dade College’s head softball coach, Gina De Agüero, via email and included some of her game and practice film. With that and a high recommendation from Greta Cecchetti, an Italian athlete who knew Biasi and had previously played in the U.S., De Agüero decided to give Biasi an opportunity to come to Miami.
Even though Biasi barely spoke English when she moved to the U.S. in January, she has quickly picked up the language.
“In the beginning I was scared, but now I feel at home,” Biasi said.
An admirer of the sciences, Biasi dreams of becoming a medical doctor or a veterinarian.
The Italian transfer seems to have her weekday schedule meticulously planned out. She studies alone in the morning and goes to class before practice.
As a pitcher, her afternoon practice starts an hour before all the other players. She focuses on specific drills for her position. The whole team joins in at around 2:30 p.m. and they’re on the diamond until about 5 p.m.
“For her it’s never enough,” said Lady Sharks infielder Jasmine Bernardini. “[Biasi is] very determined so when she puts a goal she tries to achieve it and she never gives up.”
De Agüero also appreciates Biasi’s work ethic but believes she should “let loose and have fun” sometimes. A very mechanical player, Biasi is hard on herself because she knows her potential and wants to give her full effort.
“When you see her playing, it’s like a soldier,” Bernardini said. “Her face never changes, like if something good happens and if something bad happens. It’s a quality because she never shows her weakness.”
Biasi’s poker face is ideal in high pressure moments. While standing on the mound she is completely in control of the game. To keep calm, she looks at her teammates and her coach because “they make [her] feel a little better,” Biasi says.
The Lady Sharks’ next game is on the road against Eastern Florida State College on April 7 at 1 p.m.
