Team Italy softball star Giulia Koutsoyanopulos shines en route to University of Arizona
Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, recent Capistrano Valley High School (CVHS) valedictorian who graduated with a 4.5 grade point average, a Golden State Seal Merit Dipoloma, and a California State Seal of Biliteracy, also received the AP Scholars Award, the CVHS Ron Wilms Scholar Athlete Award, and the CVHS Most Athletic Duo Award. Since committing to the University of Arizona in the eighth grade, Team Italy softball star Giulia Koutsoyanopulos has demonstrated her exemplary talent both in the classroom and on the diamond.
Making her debut for Team Italy in the 2019 WBSC U19 Women's Softball World Cup in Irvine, California, Giulia Koutsoyanopulos proved her weight in gold with a .375 batting average, one double, one triple, one stolen base, three runs scored, and three RBI. Team Italy softball manager Enrico Obletter took a leap of faith and invited the talented utility player to take on responsibilities at first base for the senior squad at the 2020 Australia Pacific Cup. Held at Sydney's Blacktown International Sportspark, it was baptism by fire for Giulia Koutsoyanopulos as she faced some of the world's finest with the likes of Japan, Mexico, Australia, Chinese Taipei, and New Zealand in the opposing dugout. She relished at the international competition and fired on all cylinders going 9-for-22 (.409 batting average). Italian skipper Enrico Obletter said, "The MVP was Giulia Koutsoyanopulos. She was our best player who hit and had a big glove every game worthy of SportsCenter highlights. She reminds me of Pete Rose because of her hustle. Giulia has an incredible personality."
Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter knows the Koutsoyanopulos family has baseball and softball embedded in their DNA. Aldo Koutsoyanopulos, Giulia's older brother, possesses speed and agility as demonstrated by his performance for Team Italy in the 2019 European Baseball Championship. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos is a work in progress on the road to success under the guidance and leadership of legendary Arizona softball head coach Mike Candrea. Enrico Obletter said, "She will become Italy's best player in the near future once she gets a year or two of college ball with Mike Candrea, the best of the best coaches out there." Arizona softball head coach Mike Candrea agrees with Enrico Obletter's accessment of Giulia "G" Koutsoyanopulos. "G is an outstanding player. She has great defensive skills. Quick as a cat, handles the glove well, gets rid of the ball well," said Arizona Wildcats Head Coach Mike Candrea.
Giulia Koutsoyanopulos was first attracted to the University of Arizona at a young age when she followed former Wildcat All-American and Olympian Jenny Finch. The bug for Arizona grew even bigger when she was coached on her 2015 Premier Girls Fastpitch National Champion travel ball U12 squad by another influential former Wildcat softball standout in Toni Mascarenas. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos subscribes to Arizona softball head coach Mike Candrea's commitment to the game and to the development of his players. In a recent interview with from Giulia Koutsoyanopulos said, "I think Coach Candrea is all about tradition and working hard. I think also, because you can see that his players come back to coach or to help out. He’s respectable, and I really respect that." Sharing ethnicity and a common love for the same MLB team might have something to do with her attraction to Mike Candrea. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos added, "Also he's half Italian. And he’s a Yankees fan like me. So like that works out too.” Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
