ALL-AMERICA

National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America
   Second Team   Terri Kobata   1995
   Third Team   Terri Kobata   1994   Katie Marten   1995, 1996

National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Mideast Region
   First Team   Terri Kobata      1993, 1994, 1995, 1996   Jenn Giampaolo    1996   Katie Marten      1995, 1996, 1997   Meghan Murray     1996
   Second Team   Angela Bessolo    1997   Jenn Giampaolo    1995   Sara Hayes        1992, 1993, 1994   Meghan Murray     1997   Elizabeth Perkins 1994
GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America
   First Team   Katie Marten    1996   Meghan Murray   1997
   Second Team   Joy Battersby   1996   Kara McMahon    1997   Katie Marten    1996   Casey McMurray  1993   Meghan Murray   1996
   Third Team   Joy Battersby   1995, 1997   Jenna Knudson   1996   Katie Marten    1995

BIG EAST AWARDS

The 1996 season marked a new era in Notre Dame softball as the first season of participation in the BIG EAST conference. The Irish went 19-1 in their first regular season in the conference, winning the South Division title with the best record in the BIG EAST. Notre Dame went 16-4 in its second year in 1997, once again claiming the South Division title, and in 1998, the team won its third straight BIG EAST South Division title with a 13-3 mark. The Irish also have been well represented when the BIG EAST awards have been announced.

Player of the Year       Meghan Murray   1996, 1997
Pitcher of the Year      Jennifer Sharron   1998
Rookie of the Year      Angela Bessolo   1996
Coach of the Year      Liz Miller   1996
All-BIG EAST Team   
   FIRST TEAM   Jenn Giampaolo      1996   Danielle Klayman    1998   Terri Kobata        1996   Kara McMahon        1996, 1997   Meghan Murray       1996, 1997   Liz Perkins         1997   Jennifer Sharron    1998   Lisa Tully          1998
   Second Team   Joy Battersby       1996   Jennifer Giampaolo  1998   Lizzy Lemire        1998   Katie Marten        1996   Sarah Mathison      1997   Kris McCleary       1997   Kelly Nichols       1997   Kelly Rowe          1997
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
   Tara King           1997   Danielle Klayman    1998   Lizzy Lemire        1998   Sarah Mathison      1997   Jennifer Sharron    1998

MIDWESTERN COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE AWARDS

From 1989, the first season of Notre Dame softball, through 1995 the Irish competed as a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, winning the conference title five of the seven years, including the last three from 1993-95. Through the years, Notre Dame placed a number of players on the MCC all-conference teams.

Player of the Year      Sara Hayes       1995   Terri Kobata     1993, 1994 Newcomer of the Year      Elizabeth Perkins   1994   Terri Kobata        1993   Sara Hayes          1992
Tournament MVP      Terri Kobata      1993, 1995   Sara Hayes        1994
Coach of the Year      Liz Miller        1994, 1995   Brian Boulac      1989
All-Midwestern CollegiateConference Team   
   FIRST TEAM   Sara Hayes         1992, 1994, 1995   Terri Kobata       1993, 1994, 1995   Jenn Giampaolo     1995   Christy Connoyer   1991, 1992, 1993, 1994   Meghan Murray      1994   Elizabeth Perkins  1994   Stephanie Pinter   1994   Amy Rueter         1994   Casey McMurray     1993   Amy Folsom         1990, 1991, 1992   Ruth Kmak          1990, 1991, 1992   Staci Alford       1992   Megan Fay          1990, 1991   Rachel Crossen     1989
   SECOND TEAM   Katie Marten       1995   Sara Hayes         1993   Andrea Keys        1993   Lisa Miller        1993   Ronny Alvarez      1992   Staci Alford       1991   Ruth Kmak          1991   Kathy Vernetti     1991   Mia Faust          1989   Megan Fay          1989   Amy Folsom         1989   Missy Linn         1989   Laurie Sommerlad   1989
All-Midwestern CollegiateConference Newcomer Team   
   Jenn Giampaolo     1995   Kelly Nichols      1995   Joy Battersby      1994   Meghan Murray      1994   Elizabeth Perkins  1994   Jenna Knudson      1993   Terri Kobata       1993   Andrea Keys        1992

NOTRE DAME AWARDS

Monogram Club Most Valuable Player   1998   Jenn Giampaolo, Kelly Nichols   1997   Meghan Murray   1996   Meghan Murray   1995   Sara Hayes   1994   Sara Hayes   1993   Christy Connoyer   1992   Amy Folsom   1991   Megan Fay   1990   Amy Folsom   1989   Rachel Crossen

Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Knute RockneScholar-Athlete Award   1998   Kelly Nichols   1997   Kara McMahon   1996   Kara McMahon   1995   Jenna Knudson   1994   Amy Rueter   1993   Casey McMurray, Lisa Miller   1992   Amy Folsom   1990   Kathy Vernetti   1990   Kathy Vernetti   1989   Terri Proksch
Most Improved Player   1997   Kris McCleary   1996   Kelly Rowe   1995   Katie Marten   1994   Liz Goetz
Coaches Award   1998   Kelly Rowe   1996   Stephanie Senteno   1995   Kara Brandenburger   1994   Jenna Knudson

BYRON V. KANALEY AWARD

The most prestigious honor awarded to a Notre Dame student-athlete, the Byron V. Kanaley Award has been presented each year since 1927 to the senior monogram athletes who have been most exemplary as both students and leaders. The awards, presented by the Faculty Board on Athletics, are named in honor of a 1904 Notre Dame graduate who was a member of the Irish baseball team as an undergraduate. Kanaley went on to a successful banking career in Chicago and served the University as a lay trustee from 1915 until his death in 1960.

Notre Dame’s softball team has had three winners of the award in its nine-year history. Terry Proksch claimed the honor in the first season of varsity softball at Notre Dame in 1989 and Kathy Vernetti won the award in 1991. Katie Marten most recently won the Kanaley Award in 1997.