For this Throwback Thursday, we go back to earlier this year when we profiled a “rising star” in Gianna Carosone, a versatile player from Las Vegas who can play almost any position including catcher and pitcher and on August 20 committed to the Univ. of Michigan.

She wrote on her Facebook page that day, ” I finally made my decision & I want to be the first to say I accepted my offer from the University of Michigan. Thank you to anybody and everybody for supporting me through this whole process and giving me unconditional love and support!! I love you all & I can’t wait to be a Wolverine!”

A five-tool player who made the FloSoftball 2018 Hot 100, she hits for power and average and ended up having a strong freshman season batting .388 and leading her high school to the Nevada state playoffs for the first time in 35 years.

And Gianna had one of the most impressive varsity starts ever when she went 3-for-3, all three hits being triples, and pitched a perfect game to boot on March 3, 2015.

Here’s more on this player we’ll be hearing a lot more about over the next three years of club and high school softball…

Rising Star: Gianna Carosone

*** originally published February 2, 2015

In the fall I had a chance to watch today’s spotlight prospect at two AFT Prospect Camps in Southern Calif. and each time walked away impressed with her physical tools and skills.

What’s interesting to note is that this Nevada freshman has been a pitcher and shortstop which explains her very strong arm– until the last year when she’s been converted to a catcher and she’s opening eyes with her potential behind the plate.

Here’s more on this player who’s also starting one of the top 14U club teams in the country…

***

Name: GIANNA CAROSONE
High School: Rancho
City: Las Vegas
State: 
Nev.
Grad Year: 2018
Club: Lil Rebels – RC
Position(s): C/SS/P
Height: 5-5
GPA: 3.71

Club Stats: 2014 – hit .470 with 30 RBI, six home runs and a .544 on-base percentage
Measurables: Attended OnDeck Las Vegas Tryout on Dec. 8, 2014 and was invited to 2015 National Jamboree after recording a 1.63 pop time, 78 mph bat speed, 68 mph exit speed, 64 mph arm speed and 4.86 in the pro agility (shuttle). Honored as one of the top players at the AFT Prospect Camps (Oct. 18, 2014 and Nov. 23, 2014).
Club Background: Gianna has played softball since she was four years old primarily with the Lil Rebels organization. Last fall, she commuted to Southern California on weekends (an 8-9 hour round-trip drive) to play with the Firecrackers-Blanco team and workout with Coaches Jeff Blanco and Rob Baca. To focus more on school, she’s now back with the Lil Rebels playing for the 14U team coached by Rick Christopher.

College: uncommitted.
Schools Interested: Gianna took an unofficial visit to Michigan on Jan. 10-11. She’s also receiving interest from Missouri, Stanford, Dartmouth, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Providence.

How She Became a Catcher: Says her mother, Trishca, who was once one of Gianna’s coaches: “Giannae was put into a catching situation one game as we were short a catcher. She went in and did amazing for having never caught before. When I asked her how she knew what to do she commented that as a pitcher she knew what she expected from her catchers and tried to do the same thing for her pitcher now. Gianna made the decision at that point to switch from pitching to catching. She caught here and there but she was always at shortstop. Since September, 2014, she has really started catching on a regular basis as we now have other players that can play short. She is still learning and growing everyday.”

Career Goals: Gianna is at a magnet school in Las Vegas studying pre-med and kinesiology with the desire to become a sports trainer and coach.

Off the Field: Gianna volunteers with Big Brothers and Big Sisters every week to tutor a elementary third grader. She has also received two rank promotions in ROTC as a first year freshman with no experience prior and is now an Airman First Class.

Coaches Comments: “Gianna is a five-tool player. She hits for both average and has significant pop. She not only has hit for high average, but has a well above-average OBP. Over the past few years, she has led our team in triples, bunts for hits and stolen bases. She not only hits for power from the right side, but has been clocked as fast as 2.8 from the left side. G is extremely versatile on defense. Her speed and arm strength make her an excellent defender. G has one of the strongest arms, in her age group on the West Coast. She has been a pleasure to coach as she’s a great kid with a great attitude. Gianna is a natural athlete who works hard at her game. She has impressed many coaches from the other ‘big name’ organizations.”
— William McInerney, Lil Rebels

Skills Video: