The world of Italian softball today mourns the death of its most emblematic representative: COVID19, in a few days, took Enrico Obletter, creator, mind, and heart, of the project that, in three years, placed Italy in the elite absolute of the world of softball, with the triumph of the European Title and qualification for the Olympic Games.

The whole European community is in disbelief in front of this news.

FIBS President Andrea Marcon, who has remained in constant contact for updates in the last dramatic days wrote a moving letter to Enrico: "Talking about you is not easy because in my role I should remember the great coach, the leader who more than any other in Italy was able to bring the teams he coached to triumph. But I can't think of the league titles, the cups, the titles with the national team, and the Olympic qualification. I can't do it because in front of my eyes I have only a generous man, with a big and sincere heart.".

All the Italian softball and baseball come together in pain and the thought of comfort to the wife Giovanna, to the family, and the many friends of Enrico, in every part of the world.

Born in Sydney (Australia) in 1959, Enrico Obletter arrived in Italy as a baseball player in 1984. He stood out as a softball technician leading Parma in Serie A and leading the Azzurre in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
He was the most successful manager in history in Italian club teams, both in the national field (9 Italian Titles and 3 Italian Cups), and in the European field (5 European Cups), coaching Macerata, Caserta, and Bussolengo. At the beginning of 2017, Enrico started to lead the Italian national softball team in winning the European Championship and the Olympic Qualifiers in 2019.

/ FIBS pr
Photo by Grega Valancic