Caitlyn Brooks was named to the NFCA High School All-America third team for the second straight year on Thursday

Irish Freshman Trio Named NFCA High School All-Americans

June 26, 2015

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Three University of Notre Dame softball freshmen are set to begin their inaugural collegiate softball seasons after concluding their respective high school careers with a top national honor. On Thursday, catcher Maddie McCracken (Olathe, Kansas/Olathe North High School), pitcher Caitlyn Brooks (Burbank, California/Burbank High School) and infielder MK Bonamy (Birmingham, Alabama/Spain Park High School) were each named by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to 2015 NFCA High School All-America teams.

A second team NFCA All-America selection, McCracken batted .552 with five home runs, 29 RBI, a .690 on-base percentage, an .879 slugging percentage and 26 runs scored for Olathe North High School. McCracken qualified for All-America voting after being named to the NFCA South Central All-Region first team for the fourth consecutive year on June 19. McCracken completed her prep softball career as a four-time NFCA High School All-American (2012 third team, 2013-15 second team).

Brooks returned to the NFCA All-America third team for the second straight season after logging an 18-5 record in the circle and a career-low 0.66 ERA in 149.1 innings pitched for Burbank High School in 2015. Brooks limited opposing batters to a .139 average against, walking only 18 while striking out 264 hitters. She also passed the 80-win and 1,000-strikeout career plateaus in the circle during her senior campaign. An NFCA West All-Region first team selection, Brooks also batted .451 with five doubles, six home runs, 26 RBI and an .859 slugging percentage last season to earn the All-America nod.

Bonamy rounded out the honorees by being tabbed to the NFCA All-America third team for the first time in her career, batting .481 with 12 home runs, 55 RBI, a .550 on-base percentage and a .842 slugging percentage in 2015 for Spain Park High School. As a pitcher, she contributed 19 wins and a sub 2.60 ERA, earning NFCA South All-Region first team distinction for the second straight season. Bonamy also was recognized for stellar work in the classroom as a junior by being chosen as a 2014 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.

McCracken, Brooks and Bonamy join infielder/utility player Melissa Rochford (Irvine, California/Mater Dei) and outfielder Ali Wester (Huntington Beach, California/Edison) as Notre Dame’s five-member class of 2019 that are eligible to play with the Irish beginning with exhibition contests this fall. The Notre Dame softball regular season will follow in February of 2016.

For the latest news and updates on all things Notre Dame softball, visit www.und.com/softball, follow the Irish @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf on Twitter and at Instagram.com/notredamesoftball, and Like the team at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.

–ND–