Notre Dame
Overall Rank: #40
Conference Rank: #4 Big East
Notre Dame Team Page
The Fighting Irish are defending Big East champions and return 13 letter winners from 2011, including four seniors, and will attempt to win a third consecutive Big East Conference championship. The Irish started last year 9-0 en route to winning 46 games, sixth highest in school history. They have 15 home dates in 2012. "We've put together a very balanced and competitive schedule," said Irish Head Coach Deanna Gumpf. "This team knows that it has the ability to beat any team on any field. It will also be nice to be able to play so many games in front of our home crowd within the friendly confines of Melissa Cook Stadium." The Irish will also host the Big East Conference Championship for the first time since 2007. The trip to the NCAA tournament in 2011 was school’s 13th consecutive.
2011: 46-11, 19-1
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Deanna Gumpf
Field Players:
Eight seniors graduated with the biggest loss being Heather Johnson, who batted .383 and led the team in homers (12) and RBIs (64). She earned NFCA third team All-America honors. The 13 players returning include Dani Miller, who batted .330 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, and pitchers Laura Winter and Britta O’Donnell. Miller is versatile and played first, second and third last year. Besides being a threat on offense, she had a fielding percentage of 1.000 in 2011 with 177 putouts and 33 assists. Chloe Saganowich (.231) could replace Fleury at shortstop with Miller figuring to play first or third because of her offense with Kathryn Lux, (.087), Jackie Bowe and Winter when she’s not pitching. Kasey O’Connor (.207) should be at second base with Haus pushing her and possibly being a DH. The outfield is led by Alexa Maldonado who is the complete package with power, speed and solid defense. She batted .413 a year ago with 55 runs scored and stole 20 of 26 bases. In her junior year, she batted .340 and stole 13 of 17 bases. Amy Buntin (.316) and Lauren Stuhr (.281) are other contenders for outfield spots with Kelsey Thornton, (.333), Emilee Koerner and Jenna Simon also vying for positions. Amy Buntin (.316) also will see action behind the plate and had a .955 fielding percentage with Kristina Wright (90 putouts, 7 assists) coming back after a broken finger on her throwing hand. Wright will keep the base stealers honest.
Pitchers:
Winter and O’Donnell (10-1) combined for 35 wins a year ago and will be counted on to lead the staff in 2012 because there are no new pitchers on the team. Jackie Bowe (1-1 a year ago) could see more mound duty in 2012. Winter had a 2.42 ERA with 216 strikeouts. Lost from the staff was Jody Valdivia who slipped to a 10-5 record after a 38-7 record her junior year.
Final Projection:
The Fighting Irish will have better team speed, but how they hit is up for discussion. Some of the players who occupied the bench last year and start in 2012 need to come through after the loss of Alexia Clay (.375), Kattie Fleury (.277), Johnson, Bria Jorgensborg (.316), Shannon Kelly, Erin Marrone (.314) and Sadie Pitzenberger (.472).
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Alexa, Maldonado, OF, 179
Hits: Alexa Maldonado, OF, 74
Home Runs: Dani Miller, IF, 11
RBIs: Dani Miller, IF,37
Runs: Alexa Maldonado, OF, 55
Stolen Bases: Alex Maldonado, OF, 20
Wins: Laura Winter, P, 25
Innings Pitched: Laura Winter, P, 179.1
Strikeouts Laura Winter, P, 216
Saves: Laura Winter, P, 1
Madness 2012 NPF Draft Rankings:
#14 Dani Miller
Madness 2012 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#16 Cassidy Whidden
