Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Christina Toniolo helped lead Team Italy to victory in the European championships.
When Fra Noi last checked in with softball pitcher Christina Toniolo for the June 2024 issue, the Crystal Lake, Illinois, native reported that she’d been recruited to the Italian National Team and helped the squad earn third place at the Canada Cup International Softball Championship.
In 2025, Toniolo suited back up for “Le Azzurre” and helped the team accomplish even more.
Team Italy won the 2025 Women’s Softball European Championship Gold Medal, claiming the top prize in the 21-team tournament.
Toniolo proved to be one of the team’s top performing pitchers. She earned a 3-0 record and a 2.63 ERA over the four games she started, which led the team. She struck out 9 of the 44 batters she faced and allowed only 12 singles and zero extra-base hits throughout the tournament.
“I think this year was another step up,” Toniolo says of her performance in the tournament. “That’s always what you’re looking for, to play well and to earn the trust of your teammates and coaching staff.”
She credits new Team Italy staff members for creating a positive environment for the team to thrive.
“I loved being on the field with those girls. That made it less stressful,” Toniolo says. “We love playing for each other, we love playing for the team and for Italy.”
The national team got together to begin training for the tournament in August in Caronno Pertusella, outside Milan. They then traveled together to the Czech Republic to continue preparing for the tournament the week before it was set to open in Prague on Sept. 7.
While she was busy with the tournament and didn’t have much time to explore, Toniolo says her first experience with the Czech Republic was very positive. Most days, a lot of local schoolkids would be brought to the tournament fields to watch the action.
“That was really cool to see the young kids supporting us,” Toniolo says. “One of the reasons we’re out here is to grow the game.”
In addition to her strong showing in international competition, Toniolo also played her first season in the Italian professional softball league. She led her team, Inox Saronno, with 20 starts, had a 13-7 record and earned a 1.86 ERA. The team finished the year with a better-than-expected 4th place finish in the 10-team league.
“Something special about this season for me is that I continually got better as the season went on,” Toniolo says. “I got hot at the right time for the team.”
Saronno, a community northwest of Milan, became Toniolo’s second home over the course of the season. Between the club season and the tournament, Toniolo got to live in Italy for around six months this year.
“I’m really grateful that I have this opportunity to experience Italian culture,” Toniolo says. “To be able to immerse myself in it has been really, really special.”
Toniolo says her goal is to keep playing professional softball in Italy next year. Her long-term strategy is the same as it was last year when she told Fra Noi she eventually plans to go to dental school but wants to play softball as long as possible first.
“I’m taking it year by year,” Toniolo says.
She considers herself very lucky to be able to live in Italy and experience the country. One highlight from this year was getting the opportunity to go hiking in the Dolomites, the famed mountain range in northeastern Italy.
“That’s something I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do in my life, so to be able to do that all thanks to softball is amazing,” Toniolo says.
The next big goal for Team Italy is to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But no matter what happens, Toniolo will always have her gold medal to remind her of her 2025 in Italy.
The article above appears in the December 2025 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.
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