Former standouts and current UCSD softball assistant coaches Kris Lesovsky and Camille Gaito are currently playing professionally in Belgium.
Lesovsky and Gaito are competing in the European Softball Federation for the Vlaamse Baseball en Softball Liga, playing for the Hoboken Pioneers.
“We are both so grateful to have the opportunity to be back on the field,” Gaito said. “We have gained a deeper appreciation for the sport through coaching, and we are enjoying the chance to play it as more mature athletes. The ability to travel Europe and experience other cultures is just another blessing I can attribute to softball.”
The two currently reside in Antwerp, about an hour away from Brussels. They live with a teammate and a host family to help with the language barrier, which also helps them continue to learn new traditions and customs of softball outside the U.S.
“I love learning more about the game from my Belgian teammates,” Lesovsky said, “and hope that we can help them grow as a team and individual players as well. Mostly, I just hope that our love for the game and enthusiasm for being on the field inspires our teammates to truly appreciate every second that we all get to be out there together for one common goal (in any language): to win.”
Lesovsky and Gaito are attempting to help qualify the Pioneers for the European Cup next summer.
While at UCSD, Gaito received All-America honors three times, was named to the All-CCAA First Team three years and earned Academic All-District selection once. Lesovsky garnered All-America distinction three years, received All-CCAA First Team respects four times and was named All-West Region each season in her career.