Today we head to Arizona to learn more about a Hot 100 2015 standout who is as talented in the classroom (4.19 GPA) as she is on the field where she’s earned All-American and All-State honors…

Name: ALYSSA DICARLO
Grad Year: 2015
Pos: SS/3B
High School: Mountain Ridge (Glendale, Ariz.)
GPA: 4.19 (weighted), top 15% in class
Club: Firecrackers – Blanco 18U Gold                                  
Stats: .583 batting average, OBP .658, 17 home runs, 63 RBI, 56 hits, 42 runs for Div. I state runners-up
Honors: No. 35 in Full Count Softball 2015 Hot 100, All-Arizona, MaxPreps Underclass All-American, 1^st Team All-Section, 1^st Team All-Division          
College: Georgia

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FullCountSoftball.com: How does a player in Arizona get connected to a California team like Firecrackers-Blanco?
Alyssa DiCarlo: I started off with the Firecracker team in Arizona and got connected to Advanced Fastpitch Training (AFT) through one of my teammate’s parents. I ended up liking Jeff (Blanco)—who trained me in the outfield, infield and hitting—and joined his team.

FCS.com: Tell us about your softball background…
AD: I started playing when I was seven and then club when I was 10. I was okay early on, but then my freshman year I started to bloom. During high school ball my coach, Michelle Markham, pushed me to work harder. I was used to being a good player but then she helped me get much better. She and Coach Jim Henry shaped me into the player I am right now.

FCS.com: When did you first realize you were a college level player?
AD: It was always my dream, I wrote an eighth paper, which was a letter to myself in the future, saying that I wanted to be a college athlete and receive a scholarship to a good program. I went to the OnDeck tryout in Arizona when I was a freshman and Derek Allister invited me to the national camp and I realized at that moment I might be good. At that camp I got a lot of interest and talk.

FCS.com: What did you do well at the OnDeck National Camp that got you noticed?
AD: I think I did well defensively, especially. He put me at third and before I was always an outfielder; he put me there and I did better than I thought I’d do. When I first walked up, Derek told me, “I want you to play infield today.” I had never played there before and I was nervous, but I did a lot better than I expected I would.

FCS.com: Was that where the Georgia coaching staff first saw you?
AD: No, they found out about me mostly through Tony (Rico, head of the Firecrackers organization). He had called them and they came out to see me in California at a showcase in the fall of 2011. I then visited Georgia in February of 2012.

FCS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
AD: I really loved the campus and the coaches. The atmosphere felt like where I should be. I had been to other schools and I didn’t have the same feeling, it didn’t feel right.

FCS.com: How did you tell the Georgia coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit?
AD: I was at my school and had tried to get ahold of them the night before, but it was the next morning and my coach texted me saying they could take my call. Before the bell rang before the start of school I was talking to them on the phone and told them I wanted to be a Bulldog.

FCS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
AD: I was nervous and I was excited. It was a nervous excited! I was with my friends and they were all happy for me. I had told my family before I left for school so they knew I was going to make the call.

FCS.com: What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
AD: I’m a good hitter, I’m athletic and have a strong arm. At least that’s what people tell me.

FCS.com: Is there an area of your game you want to work on before heading to Georgia?
AD: I want to work on my fielding at third base as I’ve been at shortstop the last year.

FCS.com: What are the main differences between playing third and shortstop?
AD: The reaction time is different, for one thing. At third you have to be quicker and at short you have more time, but you have to move a lot more laterally.

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your athletic career?
AD: The OnDeck National Camp—it was the big moment in my recruiting process. From there it just exploded because, before then, I hadn’t had much recruiting interest.

Quick Hitters

 

What do you want to major in?
Chemistry or math. I want to be an Anesthesiologist.

Fill in the blank… the best thing about softball is:_________________
… the feeling you get after hitting a home run.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in sports today?
The inequality between male and female athletes. Male athletes get much more attention.

Favorite food:
Mexican food, especially enchiladas.

Least favorite school subject:
English. I hate English.

What’s your dream vacation?
I would love to go to Paris.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I’m 100 percent Italian. My mom was born in Foci and my dad’s family is from Italy too; both his grandparents were from there.

How would you describe yourself in one word?
Trustworthy.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
A boat.

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
My friend and I always throw behind our backs to each other after we’re done warming up.

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
Probably Lauren Chamberlain.

Team you love to hate:
The Green Bay Packers… my whole family is Bears fans.

If you could have a super power, what would you want it to be?
Invisibility.

What’s playing in your earphones/buds right now?
Katy Perry.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be.
Katy Perry.

What did you want to be when you were little?
A physical therapist.

Favorite athlete:
Lauren Chamberlain. She was a Firecracker too.

Nickname(s):
AD

Something on your “must do” list:
I want to travel Europe.

Best thing about being from Arizona:
There’s no snow!

Funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a softball field:
My friend dove into second base and came up about three feet short. She had to crawl to the bag, but was safe.

What’s the No. 1 request on your Santa gift list?
I want a MacBook Air.