Daniela Castellani

Italian softball player Daniela Castellani was a pitcher and played first base, and was one of the best athletes on the European scene in the second half of the 1990’s. She started playing the game at age 11 with her hometown team Bussolengo Softball Club winning three consecutive titles (1993-95) and two Italian Cups (1995, 2002). She also played in two Champions League finals (1994-95).

Making her national team début in 1993, Castellini competed in three World Championships and two Olympic Games (2000, 2004), holding the role of captain from 2002-05. She totalled over 200 caps and played in six consecutive European Championships (1995-2005), in addition to two junior titles. At the end of the 2003 season Castelanni moved to Macerata, where she won the 2004 championships (and was named best player in the league) and the 2005 Champions Cup (named as best continental player). In 2006, Castellani gave birth to her son Alessandro, ending her playing career. In 2010, she was named the manager of the Under-19 Italian team.