Seniors Amy Buntin (above) and Kelsey Thornton were chosen by their peers to be 2013 team captains

Buntin, Thornton Named Irish Softball Team Captains

Jan. 22, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior catcher Amy Buntin and senior outfielder Kelsey Thornton have been named the 2013 University of Notre Dame softball team captains, head coach Deanna Gumpf announced Tuesday.

“Being voted captain by your teammates is a great honor, and I think Kelsey and Amy have each absolutely earned that role,” Gumpf said. “I’m excited for both of them to lead the 2013 Fighting Irish.”

Buntin was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America second team, NFCA Great Lakes all-region first team and all-BIG EAST second team after a breakout 2012 season for the Irish. Buntin led Notre Dame with a .360 batting average, and paced the BIG EAST Conference in RBI (60) and runs scored (45).

Thornton, a second team all-BIG EAST selection last season, batted at a .348 clip with 57 hits, scored 33 runs and a stole a team-high 19 bases as a junior. Thornton was 5-for-8 (.625) at the plate and scored a pair of runs during Notre Dame’s charge to the 2012 BIG EAST Championship Game, copping conference all-tournament honors in the process.

Notre Dame opens the 2013 season Feb. 9-10 at the Charlotte Fast Pitch Classic in Charlotte, N.C. For more information on Fighting Irish softball, follow the team on Twitter @NDsoftball, or at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.