GREENSBORO, N.C. – The 2023 preseason Atlantic Coast Conference announced the Preseason All-ACC team as well as the preseason poll Thursday afternoon. The University of Notre Dame was picked to finish fifth in the poll, conducted by the league’s head coaches. Junior Karina Gaskins and senior Leea Hanks each earned a spot on the Preseason All-ACC team of 15 student-athletes.
The team was picked to finish fifth in the 13-team league. Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Duke were picked ahead of the Irish. Notre Dame will play host to the Seminoles and Hokies, while heading to Durham to take on the Blue Devils during the 2023 season.
Notre Dame is coming off a 40-12 2022 season, a 16-5 ACC mark, and a season that saw the program reach the NCAA Tournament for the 23rd-consecutive season. It was the 19th time in program history that the Irish have won 40 or more games in a season. Notre Dame led the ACC in team batting average and doubles and had four of the top 12 hitters for average in the league.
Gaskins, a constant sight in the 2023 preseason softball top 100 player lists this winter, is coming off a highly successful 2022 season. The junior infielder earned All-American honors by three softball publications last spring after hitting for an ACC-leading .428 average with 61 RBI. She led the Irish with 13 home runs and connected on 12 doubles while setting a school record with a .555 on-base percentage. Gaskins was also the recipient of the 2022 ACC Player of the Year award, the third Irish player to earn the conference’s player of the year, and the 10th conference player of the year in program history.
Hanks was a second team All-ACC selection last year, and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-Region. She finished the 2022 season with a .370 average, leading the team with 14 doubles and five triples. She scored 53 runs, the most of any returning player for the Irish. She was also second on the team with six home runs and swiped 13 bases on 14 attempts. Hanks also led the team with seven outfield assists, while constantly stealing hits and runs from opponents playing left field.
Gaskins, Hanks and the rest of the Irish open the 2023 season in two weeks as they head to San Diego for a five-game weekend event. Notre Dame will take on Arizona State, San Diego State, CSUN, Northern Illinois and Memphis during opening weekend. The season’s first matchup with ASU is set for February 9th, with a 10 p.m. first pitch.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Florida State
- Virginia Tech
- Clemson
- Duke
- Notre Dame
- Georgia Tech
- Louisville
- Virginia
- Syracuse
- NC State
- North Carolina
- Boston College
- Pittsburgh
2023 Preseason All-ACC Team
Infielders
- Karina Gaskins, Notre Dame, Jr.
- Cameron Fagan, Virginia Tech, Jr.
- Mack Leonard, Florida State, Gr.
- Alla Logoleo, Clemson, R-Jr.
- Devin Flaherty, Florida State, Sr.
Outfielders
- Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Sr.
- Emma Ritter, Virginia Tech, Jr.
- McKenzie Clark, Clemson, Jr.
- Leea Hanks, Notre Dame, Sr.
Catcher
- Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Sr.
Pitchers
- Katheryn Sanderock, Florida State, R-Sr.
- Valerie Cagle, Clemson, R-Jr.
- Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech, So.
Designated Player
- Kalei Harding, Florida State, Jr.
- Meredith Slaw, Virginia Tech, Sr.