Giovanna Palermi

Giovanna Palermi was one of the greatest Italian softball players. Playing third base, her first club was San Saba Roma but she moved to the Roma club where she won her first Italian title in 1984. Palermi won 10 more championships: Lazio (1990-91), Bologna (1992), Bussolengo (1993), and six with Vismap Macerata. Internationally she competed at the 1990 and 1994 World Championships and helped win two European titles (1992, 1999), as well as six European Champions Cups.

Palermi married Enrico Obletter in 1993. He was born in Australia, but arrived in Italy at age 17 and, after playing professional football in the Third League, became a baseball player. He passed away in 2021, a victim of COVID-19.

Giovanna Palermi later worked with computers and helped with gym training, also coaching the Saronno Softball team, including the U-21 team and the youth division.