Marcella Riello '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Marcella Riello in the 2023 graduation class.  When I was 9 years old, I asked my parents to play softball.  At the time, I also wanted to play tennis and dance.  I quickly found out that tennis was not my game but I did love dance and softball.   I played recreation softball and danced from 8u-12u.   During my second year 12u, I became serious about softball and joined a travel team.  Softball became more than just a sport. It was a passion.  Therefore, I quit dance and dedicated my time to my school work and softball.  In particular, I love commanding the mound, while pitching and playing first base.  

Unfortunately while growing up, I was a late bloomer. I was a goofy kid that loved to make people laugh.  Until last year, I wasn't really tall but rather lanky and weak.  Although I tried my best, my performance in softball was not very good due to my stature and overall body weakness from growing.  Therefore, I worked real hard to overcome my deficiencies caused by my stature by working out and practicing 6-7 days a week. I knew this was necessary to play softball in high school, let alone travel softball.  

Fortunately, I have someone who knows how to train and push me to do my best.  That person is my rock, my cheerleader, my coach, and my dad. My dad knew the dedication to play A1 ball since he played football for Syracuse University 1996-1990. He really helped me become the competitive player I am today.  In addition to the physical component of playing softball, my dad taught me about the mental game of playing division one softball as well as teaching me what it takes to be a winner.   When I told my dad I wanted to learn how to really pitch well, he made me commit to practicing.  This dedication of practicing has shown me how to be a great player, to be mentally tough,  to work  through the tough times, and always stay positive.   When I am on the mound or the diamond, I am not afraid, nor can I be intimidated. Rather, I feel as if I am in a different world, which I can control.  Additionally, being a positive role model to my teammates is very important so we can overcome the obstacles we face during the game together as a team.   

I would love to find a school that would allow me to explore different opportunities that I am interested in to pursue my love for softball and film. Presently, I am in an invitation only program, which I had to audition for, called FPAC, where I am working on entertainment technology. I love being behind the camera and capturing those special moments in life. Maybe one day I can work for ESPN working behind a camera capturing the great women in our country playing softball. I really want to find a school that cares about me, my education, and wants to help me make my dreams a reality.  I’m looking forward to the day I’m able to compete on the diamond and in the classroom for a fine university.