Michigan-bound SS Avery Fantucci is a three-time All-State player out of Atlanta, GA, and a major reason that EC Bullets Gold-Schnute are a threat to win any major national event.
Fantucci, #6 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, is a multi-sport standout from a close family and she is an amateur ceramics stylist and juggler.
Troy-bound P Olivia Cato, #43 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, loves having Fantucci playing behind her.
“Avery is awesome,” Cato said. “As a person, she’s very funny, supportive and everything you would want in a teammate. On the field, she has a very high softball IQ and she’s always one or two plays ahead. Whenever I’m pitching and a ball goes to her, I never worry because I always know she’s got it.”
Boston College-committed 2023 OF Katelyn Deguire has been teammates with Fantucci on the EC Bullets and Marist High.
“I’ve been on a team with Avery for about 3 years now, and I’ve yet to play with another girl like her,” Deguire said. “Her defensive skills are amazing and she can cover a crazy amount of ground on the left side. Not only is she a great player, but she is an even better teammate. There’s never a dull moment when playing with her, whether it’s talking in between pitches, laughing at something in the dugout or singing Taylor swift in the locker room. I’ve really enjoyed being Avery’s teammate the past few years, and I know she is going to do great things in the future.”
EXTRA STAR POWER Q&A
Name: Avery Fantucci
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
High School: Marist High
Club Team: EC Bullets 18U Gold-Schnute
Graduation Year: 2022
Height: 5-foot-9
Position: SS
Nickname: Tooch
Twitter: @averyfantucci
Honors:
National Honor Society Junior and Senior years; 1st Team All-Region four times, Region Player of the Year three times and Class AAAA 1st Team All-State three times in softball; Region Player of the Year in 2020 and Class AAAA 1st Team All-State in 2020 in basketball.
Travel Ball Highlights/Fall Stats:
Earned a berth to the Alliance 18U Nationals by finishing runner-up at the SEFL Fall Championships in Clearwater Beach.
Tell us about your travel team/organization and how you became involved with them?
I have played for the EC Bullets 18 Gold-Schnute for the past three years. I joined the EC Bullets organization five years ago playing for Andrew Biele and JD Heath (EC Bullets 2021 Biele/Heath) when they gave me an opportunity in 14U to play for them. We became one of the top teams in the country and Coach (Greg) Schnute pulled us up to his team in 2019. Coach Schnute founded the EC Bullets in 1996 and had the first travel fastpitch team in Georgia.
What were some of the training methods and workouts you did to stay busy during the stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus situation?
My parents would help me out a ton by throwing me front toss and hitting me ground balls. My mom would even help as well when my dad was unavailable with work or something. I also kept up in the weight room and I would try to run a couple miles a day to keep up with my conditioning. Georgia opened back up a little faster than other states, so I was able to work with others a couple months into the pandemic (with social distancing protocols).
What is something you have faced in your life that has helped you become the person that you are today?
I grew up having my grandparents and uncle live with me, my parents, and my sister. This really shaped me and my belief in the importance of family. When I was younger, I never had to have a babysitter because my grandparents or my uncle would watch me. I believe this has made me a more empathetic and loving person.
What’s your most memorable softball story?
My most memorable softball story is when we won TCS Nationals in 2019. We got runner-up the year before, so we were on a mission to win. I remember when we got that final out in the championship game, we threw our gloves in the air out of joy and were all running up to each other and hugging one another. I will never forget that feeling of winning a national championship.
What’s something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
My favorite class I’ve taken at school is Ceramics. I had so much fun making bowls, plates, mugs, etc., on the wheel and I feel like if you met me you would not think I would be interested in something like that.
What have you learned about yourself in the past year?
In the past year, I have learned that I am not defined by softball or the outcomes of my games, or how I play. You wouldn’t have been able to tell, but whenever I would make an error or do something bad in softball, I felt like I was a worse person because of it or that I was letting people down. However, just growing up in this past year has allowed me to realize that there is more to me than just softball, and I want all other softball players to realize that for them too.
Do you have a secret talent/skill?
I can do weird little tricks like juggling or spinning a basketball on my finger.
Who is the most underrated player on your team?
The most underrated player on my team is (Clemson-bound 2022 OF) Marena Knowles. She is an amazing hitter. She is so disciplined at the plate, hardly ever strikes out and just hits the crap out of the ball. I aspire to have a swing like Marena’s.
If you could have dinner with four people dead or alive, who would it be?
If I could have dinner with four people dead or alive, it would be Taylor Swift, Dansby Swanson, Blake Lively and my late grandma and grandpa.
What are you looking for in your future college?
I am looking for a college that can challenge me academically and athletically, and that is why I think Michigan is a great fit for me. Michigan is such a prestigious school that also has a prominent softball program.
What do coaches say they like most about you and your game?
I believe they like that I don’t get too down on myself when I make a mistake and I don’t get overexcited when I make a great play or hit a home run. I try to be even-keel and keep my teammates that way too. I think they would also say that I like to keep things loose in the dugout and have been known to joke around with my teammates.
What was the highlight of your summer season and/or fall season?
I always enjoy the trip to Colorado every summer, but I think one of the highlights for this past summer was watching some of my teammates play in the Senior All-Star game in the Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. It was also cool to go on the field after the game. I hope to play on that field in the College World Series one day. This past summer was also a little sad as most of my friends I have been playing with for five years graduated and moved on to their colleges.
EXTRA INSIGHTS
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? My Uncle told me about the illusion of choice a couple of years ago and it has always stuck with me. It is the idea that when you are faced with two options, you really only have one way to go if you want to better yourself. For example, if I had the choice between sleeping in and going to workout, I do not actually have a choice if I want to get better.
What’s your spirit animal? My spirit animal would be a Dolphin because they are playful and like being with others.
Favorite pro athlete: My favorite pro athlete is Derek Jeter. When I was in third grade, we had a living museum and I chose to be Derek Jeter.
Favorite Movie: “The Notebook.”
Favorite song/artist: Taylor Swift.
Favorite actor/actress: Blake Lively.
Favorite TV show to binge: “Gossip Girl.”
Favorite motto/philosophy on life: “Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart.” —Drake
— Carlos Arias, Extra Inning Softball (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)
