Cheska Altomonte

Francesca "Cheska" Altomonte (born June 27, 1992) is a Filipina softball player who plays as a catcher of the Philippines women's national softball team.

Early life and education Cheska Altomonte was born on June 27, 1992, and comes from a family of baseball and softball players. She started with baseball, playing with her brothers at age 10 as a pitcher, shortstop, and a third base.

Career Cheska Altomonte played for Ateneo's softball team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines' (UAAP) Softball Championship. She played for five years with her school and later became co-captain.

Barely 17-years old, Altomonte tried out for the Philippines women's national softball team in 2010 but did not make it. She plays as a catcher with the Philippines and later became team captain. She took a leadership role within the team, helping Filipino Americans integrate with the local-based players.

Altomonte won her first ever SEA Games medal at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore. At the 2017 Asian Women's Softball Championship in Taichung, the Philippines finished as runners-up.

She competed in other regional, continental and international tournaments. She returned to the Asian Championship in 2019, and 2023, took part at the Women's Softball World Championship in 2016 and 2018, the Asian Games in 2014 and 2018.

Altomonte decided to retire from the national team after the Philippines won its tenth ever gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games.

Altomonte was convinced to come out of retirement by Ana Maria Santiago, her coach for the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 Women's Softball World Cup (formerly the World Championship). She had a MCL injury in the 2022 Canada Cup which the Philippine national team took part of its preparations.

She rejoined the regular softball Philippine national team for the Group Stage (Group C) of the 2024 Women's Softball World Cup in July 2023. They reached the playoff but was defeated by Italy, preventing their qualification for the finals phase. In October 2023, Altomonte joined the 2022 Asian Games squad, placing fourth again.

Sports administration In 2020, Altomonte became secretary general of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines the following year.

Personal life Cheska's brother, Dino is a member of the Philippines national baseball team since 2017.