Florida SouthWestern softball will welcome Olympian Laura Vigna for 2022 season
FORT MYERS — Before Laura Vigna dons Florida SouthWestern State College鈥檚 purple and aqua next spring, the outfielder proudly represented her home country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Vigna was Team Italy鈥檚 standout player and, by the tournament鈥檚 end, was named to the All-Olympic Softball Team. This soon-to-be Buc is accustomed to winning and up to the challenge of helping the softball team repeat last year鈥檚 NJCAA National Championship victory.
The first time Vigna stepped on the diamond, she wasn鈥檛 tossing a large, yellow ball with girls her age. Instead, she followed her brother鈥檚 path to the game of baseball where she played until she no longer could.
By 2013, the 14-year-old Vigna was forced to transition to softball. With her athletic abilities and leadership skills, Vigna didn鈥檛 miss a beat. The youth national team played in tournaments around the world 鈥� Italy, Australia, Japan, the United States 鈥� and the young outfielder was quickly promoted to the national team.
In the 2019 European Championship, Vigna hoisted Team Italy over their opponent with a go-ahead home run in the final game. Three weeks later, Team Italy punched their ticket to Tokyo. Vigna drove in 6 runs throughout the qualifying tournament to help Italy its their spot in the 2020 Olympic Games. She also went 6-for-15 with an .800 slugging percentage.
Although their time in Tokyo didn鈥檛 turn out like the team would have hoped, Florida SouthWestern State should be excited about their future Buc. She collected three hits, scored the team鈥檚 only run, and robbed a home run from Japan鈥檚 Yamato Fujita, the tournament鈥檚 Most Valuable Player.
In Vigna, the Buccaneers are getting a dynamic hitter who can hit for average and provide moderate power from the left side of the plate. She is also a stellar defender and natural leader, according to Italy鈥檚 late softball manager Enrico Obletter.
When talking with the in 2017, the beloved coach praised all aspects of the young outfielder鈥檚 game and explained why he chose Vigna as the team鈥檚 captain: 鈥淟aura was the best rookie at 2017 European Championship in Bollate, where she hit over .500 during the tournament. She will become Italy鈥檚 best player as long as she stays humble and develops a better athletic frame. Laura has all the tools and above all a great maturity for her age.鈥�
When she trades her hometown jersey for Florida SouthWestern State鈥檚 this season, Vigna鈥檚 memories of the Olympics will remain in her heart and reflect onto the diamond as she helps the Buccaneers go for a back-to-back title.
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