Feb. 1, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame senior All-American Amy Buntin has been named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list, the Amateur Softball Association and USA Softball announced Friday.
Entering its 12th year, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the United States.
A native of Franklin, Tenn., Buntin received National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America second team honors in 2012. The then junior catcher also earned NFCA Great Lakes all-region first team recognition.
Buntin led the Irish with a .360 batting average and 62 base hits, pacing the BIG EAST Conference with 60 RBI and 45 runs scored. Buntin added 12 home runs, second behind Dani Miller (16) on the Notre Dame squad, and a .616 slugging percentage last season.
The pre-season list includes 27 seniors, 15 juniors and eight sophomores, with freshmen ineligible for consideration (freshmen can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level). Athletes named to the watch list represent 34 NCAA Division I universities and 12 athletic conferences.
The top 25 finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 10.
Notre Dame opens its 2013 regular season schedule Feb. 9-10 at the Charlotte Fast Pitch Classic in Charlotte, N.C.
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