We’ve been in San Diego a lot recently and why not? The beautiful city is also producing some great talent these days and our latest example is a sophomore catcher with a cool name who’s headed to the SEC!

Name: CRISTIONA CACCAMISE
Grad Year: 2017
Pos: catcher
High School: Patrick Henry (San Diego, Calif.)
GPA: 4.0
Club: San Diego Power Surge Gold – Berndes                     
Stats: hit .477 as a freshman; travel ball hit .455 and had 39 RBI, both led the team.
College: LSU

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FullCountSoftball.com: First, let’s talk about your name, which is very pretty… is there a story behind it (either first name, last or both)?
Cristiona Caccamise: My dad wanted a boy since I already have two sisters.  I was told about 3 weeks after he found out I was a girl he was looking through the baby name book for a girl’s name because he only had a boy’s name picked out.  He chose Cristiona Capri and the spelling was specific as that is the Italian way to spell it. A few years back my softball coach was tired of calling me Cristiona so he asked if he could call me CC.   My softball family and close friends call me CC.

FCS.com: You have said (on a Power Surge profile) you want to go into marketing… what do you like about that field that makes you interested in doing it?
CC: There are a variety of professions I could choose from in that field but ultimately I would like to do something that would allow me to be self-employed or own my own company in the future.  I haven’t decided specifically what I want to do yet.

FCS.com: Let’s turn our attention to the field… you had a great week at ASA Nationals as you hit .500 (12-for-24) with 10 RBI. Did you feel like you were in the zone?
CC: Hitting .500 is not far from my normal batting average so I wouldn’t exactly say I was in the zone.  My goal was to hit at least .500 but I still would have liked for that to be even higher.

FCS.com: With the great summer you had, did LSU become interested then or does the recruiting from them start much earlier?
CC: : I am not exactly sure when they became interested in me but it may have started with the video I sent them in the Spring.

FCS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
CC: I had received some offers already and had taken some unofficial visits.  I felt it was time to make a commitment and I was ready to do that.  My dream is to not only play in the College World Series but I want to actually win it.  I felt that the LSU Tigers were a good fit to help me chase that dream.

FCS.com: When did you visit the Tigers’ campus and what were your thoughts while there?
CC: I visited LSU on September 26^th and 27^th.  After spending two days with the team and the coaches I just felt that this was the best fit for me and I wanted to be part of the LSU softball family.  The players were very welcoming and I feel I can really grow as a player under the coaching of Coach Torina.  I also think earning a degree from a school like LSU will help me achieve success after college.

FCS.com: Had you visited many other schools? What were some of the other places you liked and why?
CC: I have visited many other schools and each visit was a good experience but ultimately I still felt LSU would give me the best shot a seeing my dream of winning the College World Series come true.

FCS.com: How did you tell the LSU coaches you were committing: in person, on the phone, on you unofficial visit?
CC: On the Wednesday evening following my visit I called Coach Torina to discuss their offer and once it was discussed I immediately and happily accepted it on the phone.

FCS.com: Describe the moment you committed and the surrounding circumstances!c
CC: I made the call from Powerline Consulting where I have taken lessons from Sara Hayes and her staff since I was 8 years old.  She wanted to be part of this experience since she has played such a big part in my softball life.

FCS.com: Being half the country away, was distance a factor in your decision at all?
CC: I was very interested in the SEC and felt that the further away I go from home the more the experience will be unique and the more I will learn and grow from it.

FCS.com: What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player?
CC: My attitude on the field and with my teammates is a big strength.  Also, even though I am young I am very committed to softball and have a very strong work ethic.  I always try to be the best I can be and to help my teammates be their best as well. 

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your athletic career?
CC: The PGF game in 2013 against Team Mizuno-Campbell.  We took them to extra innings but unfortunately did not come out on top.  They went on to win PGF that year.  It’s a top memory because our team fought with so much heart and I will always remember being part of that experience.  Most people would probably think of a top memory as being one with a happy ending but I will never forget the battle of this game and pride I felt at hard we fought no matter what the outcome.

 

Quick Hitters (short answers)

 

Describe what softball means to you in one word.
Family.

Fill in the blank… my favorite thing about San Diego is:_________________
… you never run out of things to do.  I especially love the beach and go as often as I can.

What do you think is the best part and the worst part about being a catcher?
The responsibility and pressure are the worst part because it can be very stressful.  On the other hand the responsibility and the pressure are also the best part because I enjoy the challenge of both.

Favorite food:
Greek Salad.

Least favorite food:
All seafood!

Pet person? If so, what pets do you have or want to have?
I have two dogs: Macie, a shih tzu, and Frisbee, a shepherd mix rescue dog.

What’s your dream vacation?
Touring Italy with my family.

What world topic or issue are you most passionate about?
Breast Cancer Awareness.

What makes you the most happy?
I am most happy when I feel I have left everything I have on the softball field.  That doesn’t always mean I had a good day or we won but as long as I have given everything I have that’s all I can do. In other areas of my life what makes me most happy is being with my family and having time to just unwind.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I feel unbalanced if my room gets too messy because I am too busy to clean it.  It’s hard for me to do homework in my room if it’s not clean.  Also, I have mirrored closet doors and I can’t sleep unless they are both closed.

Best advice ever given…
Make no excuses.  This was told to me by Sara Hayes at Powerline Consulting and I live by it in all areas of my life.

If you were handed a one thousand dollar bill, what would you do with it?
I would put it in my savings account because I know it will be difficult for me to have a job with the time I commit to softball.  I will need it when I start to drive.

Do you have any softball superstitions or rituals?
I wear the same Breast Cancer bow when I play.

What advice would you give a player coming up about the recruiting process?
Advice in general: everyone needs a break and time to recover but remember that while you are taking that time off another athlete with the same goal is training. Recruiting process advice: make sure you are sending emails to schools you are interested in and don’t wait for them to come to you.  When you are on the field focus on playing and winning as a team, not an individual.  That will help you take the focus off yourself and calm your nerves.