ONE ON ONE WITH ITALIAN OLYMPIC SOFTBALLER EVA TREVISAN

(at right, Eva Trevisan is all smiles after making a catch against the backstop on Wednesday against Chinese Taipei. Photo by Franco Bagattini.)

Italy catcher Eva Trevisan (who also plays third base) concluded her first Olympics today, as the team finished round robin play with a 1-0 loss to Canada that left them with a final won-lost record of 1-6. The 24-year old was nice enough to answer ten questions for us as she came off the field here in Athens.

QUESTION: First question is ... gotta ask ... how hot is it out there?!
EVA TREVISAN: It's so hot. Too much. Too much. It makes you crazy.

Q: What is the greater over the last week: the amount of water drank at the Olympics or the amount of wine drank back in Italy over the same period of time?
ET: I think here. Water here, in Greece.

Q: They say that the games are being broadcast on television back to Italy. Do you think the Pope is watching softball?
ET: No, I don't think so. I don't think he watches that.

Q: Where do you think the scenery is better - in Rome or in Athens?
ET: Well, they're both very beautiful, but they're different. I didn't have a chance to go around and look at the scenery, but I think Greece, Athens, is very beautiful. Rome, at the same time, is beautiful, but I think it's two different things.

Q: Was (Italy shortstop) Marta Gambella trying to outdo your hair when she had hers dyed blue? (Trevisan's long hair has tight twists in it.)
ET: No, no. She tried.

Q: Why are your team colors blue and white, and your country's colors are red, white, and green?
ET: I don't know. Blue has always been the color of the Italian uniforms ... of the soccer team and everything.

Q: Offensively or defensively, what one play that you've been involved with has been the highlight of your Olympic competition this week?
ET: I think it was an out when I played third (base) that was an important out and maybe could've changed the game when we won against China. It was the last inning, so it was good.

Q: You speak three-and-a-half languages. Do you plan to learn another one?
ET: Yeah. I want to learn French. And I would like to learn Chinese.

Q: Will Italy qualify for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition too, and will you be on the team?
ET: I hope so. I'll do my best. Yeah.

Q: Any message you would like to send through our website to people in Italy who are reading this?
ET: For sure we are disappointed about the result, but we have been very unlucky. We tried our best and we played with heart. It didn't work.