Feb. 22, 2006
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2006 adidas Golden Panther Invitational • Miami, FL • Feb. 24-26
Notre Dame vs. Buffalo, Friday, Feb. 24, FIU Softball Field, 2:00 p.m.
Notre Dame at Florida International, Friday, Feb. 24, FIU Softball Field, 6:00 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Memphis, Saturday, Feb. 25, FIU Softball Field, 10:00 a.m.
Notre Dame at Florida International, Saturday, Feb. 25, FIU Softball Field, 4:00 p.m.
Bracket Play, Oppnent TBA, Sunday, Feb. 26, Time TBA
2006 season continues at Florida International –
The 2006 University of Notre Dame softball season continues this weekend with the program’s first-ever trip to Florida International, as the team takes part in the adidas/Golden Panther Invitational. The Irish will face Buffalo, Florida International (twice) and Memphis on the first two days of the tournament. There will be a bracket game on Sunday against an opponent to be determined. The fifth team taking part in the tournament is BIG EAST Conference member St. John’s.
Congratulations Coach Gumpf !
Notre Dame head softball coach Deanna Gumpf and her husband John welcomed their second child, Tatum Elizabeth, at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Both mother and the eight-pound probable left-handed pitching prospect are doing well. Deanna expects to rejoin the team on the road full time during Spring Break.
Keep up with the Irish on the road –
Notre Dame softball family, friends and fans can keep up with the Irish two different ways this season. Live audio broadcasts of selected Notre Dame games will be available throughout the year. Due to facility limitations, the next live audio broadcast will be Notre Dame’s rematch with CS Fullerton at the Judi Garman Classic on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (subscription to Fighting Irish All-Access required, see www.und.com and click on `multimedia’ for more information). If the Irish are scheduled to play on the main field at the Judi Garman Classic during bracket play, those game also will be available for live audio subscribers.
For this weekend’s tournament, Florida International will offer live statistical updates, available at www.fiusports.com and www.und.com.
In addition, the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000) will be updated as soon as possible after each game this season.
Once the Irish return home to Ivy Field in March, each contest will be available via live audio coverage in addition to Gametracker updates.
First weekend recap –
Notre Dame finished 2-3 in its run through the UNLV Desert Classic last weekend, earning victories over two of the Mountain West Conference’s top teams, UNLV (6-4) and BYU (8-3). The Irish dropped their first game of the season 5-4 to Colorado State (after a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh fell short) and also fell to #14/12 Oregon State 5-0 and CS Fullerton 9-3.
The Irish bats were alive last weekend, hitting .270 against their opponents, driving in 20 runs and hitting five home runs. Unfortunately, the Irish pitching staff struggled in its first weekend of action, surrendering nine home runs and 24 earned runs.
Kohan makes the BIG EAST honor roll –
Freshman Linda Kohan became the first Irish player to earn a spot on the BIG EAST Conference softball honor roll this week. The rookie slugger out of Westminster, Calif., was 8 for 16 over the weekend with three home runs, five RBI and one double. Her first career hit for the Irish was a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh against Colorado State – spurring classmates Erin Glasco and Alexandra Kotcheff to follow up with their first career hits as well.
The BIG EAST Conference introduced the weekly honor roll system this season. The league still announces player of the week and pitcher of the week awardwinners, but also honors outstanding efforts by additional players in the conference.
ND history vs. weekend opponents –
Notre Dame will face a unique situation this weekend, as the Irish have little history with any of the three teams they are scheduled to face.
In fact, the only previous meeting between Notre Dame and its scheduled opponents this weekend was a 2-1 setback to Florida International at the 2004 FAU/Worth Invitational.
Notre Dame will meet Buffalo and Memphis for the first time in program history this weekend. Memphis is in its first season of softball competition in 2006.
Should the Irish meet BIG EAST Conference opponent St. John’s in bracket play on Sunday, it would mark the first-ever meeting between the Irish and Red Storm outside regular-season conference play. Notre Dame is 20-0 all-time versus St. John’s.
Preview of this weekend’s opponents –
Buffalo – the Bulls will be playing their first game of the year against Notre Dame on Friday … Buffalo finished the 2005 season with a 22-28 record … the top returning hitter for the Bulls will be Laura Kor (IF, .244, 6 HR, 15 RBI in `05) … the top returning pitcher be Sophie Barstad (2.18 ERA, 10-11, 70 Ks in `05).
Florida International – the Golden Panthers are 3-6 in 2006 with wins over Mississippi, Long Island and Arkansas … 1B Ashley Falk is pacing the team in hitting with a .583 average (7 for 12) with one home run and four RBI … Sarah Belander has seen a majority of the pitching time (24.0 IP) and is 0-3 with a 2.92 ERA … Florida International is 1-4 at home this season.
Memphis – the Tigers have begun their first collegiate softball season with a 3-1 record … Memphis has scored at least 10 runs in each of its three victories (19-0 vs. Grambling State, 11-0 vs. Mississippi and 10-1 vs. Grambling State) and each victory has come in five innings … the team’s loss was to #18 La.-Lafayette (12-1) … OF Cara Stiles (.600, 2 2B, 2 RBI) and C Kimberly Hayden (.462, 1 HR, 9 RBI) are the hitters to watch in the Tiger lineup … three pitchers have combined to see close to even time in the circle this season for Memphis.
Overview of the Irish –
Due to roster turnover this season, Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf (entering her fifth year with the Irish) will face her first season without `proven’ players at several key spots. Notre Dame graduated five players last year, four of which were every-day starters for the team. Notre Dame’s early-season fortunes could be decided by the team’s development at third base, leftfield, centerfield and in the pitching staff.
While those positions are uncertain at this point, the Irish are strong in all other facets of the game. Senior Heather Booth will lead the pitching staff and, after 640 innings pitched, 69 victories and 587 strikeouts during her career, the Riverside, Calif., native is poised for a stellar season. Booth will share the starting duties with hard-throwing freshman Brittney Bargar. Junior Kenya Fuemmeler is ready to see an increase in pitching time this season as well. Adding even more depth to the pitching staff will be freshman Christine Farrell. Farrell is returning from offseason surgery and is expected to be at full strength for the BIG EAST Conference season.
Three starting infielders return with all-BIG EAST selections Sara Schoonaert at shortstop (.237, 33 RBI, 16 SB – career numbers), Katie Laing (.308, 23 RBI, 17 2B) at second base and Meagan Ruthrauff (.303, 19 HR, 117 RBI) at first base. Junior Carrisa Jaquish (.223, 44 H, 19 RBI) and freshman Linda Kohan are battling for the starting third base spot in preseason camp.
The outfield will have a new look this season. Junior Gessica Hufnagle, once a catcher for the Irish, will patrol leftfield and give the Irish a potent arm and increased athleticism in the outfield. Freshman Alexandra Kotcheff is penciled in as the starter in centerfield and hopes to give the Irish speed on defense and a triple threat at the plate on offense. The returning starter will be in rightfield with junior Stephanie Brown (.318, 44 RBI, 22 SB), who made a successful move from second base to the outfield in `05. Sophomore Sarah Smith, sophomore Brittany Glynn and freshman Stephanie Mola will provide the Irish with depth in the outfield. Freshman Beth Northway is working her way back from offseason surgery and her status for the `06 has not yet been determined.
Senior Mallorie Lenn (.260, 71 RBI) will return as the Irish catcher this season and is poised for a breakout season after getting through an offseason without an injury hiccup. She will be backed up by freshman Erin Glasco – and the non-starter of the two players is expected to be Notre Dame’s top option at designated hitter.
Notre Dame in early-season tournaments –
Notre Dame began what is now the collegiate softball tradition of early-season tournament action in 1990 when it took part in a Chicago, Ill., tournament. Since that trip, Notre Dame has visited 30 different areas of the country and participated in several elite tournaments. Notre Dame’s all-time record in early-season tournament action is 172-122 (.585) and its most frequent sites visited have been South Florida (seven times), Columbus, Ga. (six times), and CS Fullerton (four times). This season, Notre Dame will visit Las Vegas, Nev. (for the third time), Miami, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., and CS Fullerton once again.
New BIG EAST Conference unveiled in 2006 –
The BIG EAST Conference expansion, which officially took place this fall, has garnered most of its attention in men’s basketball. The conference has quickly transformed into the top men’s basketball league in the country, but the effect that expansion will have on softball cannot be overlooked. The BIG EAST welcomes three traditional softball powers into the conference this season with the addition of DePaul, Louisville and South Florida. All three of the new teams will compete to end Notre Dame’s regular-season conference title streak which stands at 10 years entering the `06 campaign.
Combined with an already solid conference lineup, the BIG EAST is now arguably the top softball league east of the Mississippi River. With a new league alignment, the BIG EAST Championship – scheduled to be played in South Bend, Ind., beginning May 11 – will feature a new schedule. The top eight teams from the league standings will take part in a single-elimination, three-day tournament to determine the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Championship.
Irish captains –
Notre Dame will feature four captains this season for just the second time in the program’s history. The senior class of Heather Booth, Mallorie Lenn, Meagan Ruthrauff and Sara Schoonaert will provide leadership both on and off the field for the team in 2006. The only other team to feature four captains was Notre Dame’s most successful team ever – the 2001 squad. Current Irish assistant coach Lizzy Lemire shared the captaincy that season with Melanie Alkire, Danielle Klayman and Jennifer Sharron. The Irish finished 54-7 in `01 and earned a number-one seed in the NCAA Championship.
Booth to continue climb up Notre Dame career charts –
Senior co-captain Heather Booth, a front-line starter for the Irish since she walked on campus four years ago, will continue her climb up the Irish career pitching charts this season. The single-season record holder for complete games (30 in `04), Booth’s current all-time statistical ranking include seventh in appearances (115), third in starts (99), fourth in wins (69), fourth in complete games (62), fourth in shutouts (21), fourth in innings pitched (658.0), fifth in winning percentage (.718, 69-75), fifth in ERA (1.63) and fourth in strikeouts (587).
See page six of this notes package for a complete listing of Notre Dame’s current players on several different all-time statistical rankings.
Season schedule will be a challenge –
The 2006 season will prove a challenge for the Irish, as the team will face several teams ranked in the top 25, or just out of the national rankings.
According to the latest rankings, the Irish will face (NFCA rankings first, followed by USA Softball) #18/17 Nebraska, #21/21 DePaul #12/13 Northwestern, #16/15 Arizona State and #24/- Louisville. Notre Dame has already faced #14/12 Oregon State (5-0 loss) and BYU (8-3 victory), who entered the USA Softball poll at #25 this week. In addition, Notre Dame will face CS Fullerton, Florida State, UNLV and South Flordia – all teams who have received at least one vote in the preseason national rankings.
Notre Dame knocked off four ranked teams durng the 2005 season. The Irish defeated #21 South Florida and #19 Florida on their first weekend of action (Feb. 12-13), then knocked off #5/6 Tennessee in its last game at the Palm Springs Classic. Notre Dame also defeated #15 Northwestern with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh on Tuesday, April 26, 2005.
Under head coach Deanna Gumpf, the Irish have knocked off at least three ranked teams in three of four seasons (#25 South Florida, #4 Nebraska, #15 Oregon State in `02; #8 Nebraska, #14 Nebraska, #18 Nebraska in `04). The Irish have defeated a total of 13 ranked teams during Gumpf’s tenure. The most ranked wins for the Irish came in 2001, when the team defeated eight teams ranked in the national top 25.
New coaching staff, new Gumpf Family addition –
Notre Dame will unveil its new coaching staff in a unique way this season. Lizzy Lemire, a 2001 Notre Dame graduate, has joined the staff and Kris Ganeff (Notre Dame `99) moves up into the first assistant role. The change came about with the decision of former Irish assistant coach Charmelle Green to take a job in Notre Dame’s Student-Athlete Development Program.
The unusual twist to the story is that Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf will miss Lemire’s official debut with the team. Gumpf and her husband John welcomed their second child, Tatum Elizabeth, on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Deanna will not make the first three weekend trips of the season with the team. She will rejoin the team full time on the road for its Spring Break trip to Southern California.
While Gumpf is away from the team on the road, Ganeff will coach third base and Lemire will man the first base coaching box. To aid in the pitching staff’s development during Gumpf’s pregnancy, former Irish assistant coach Dawn Austin returned to the team as a volunteer assistant coach this season.
Ruthrauff approaching career walks record –
Senior 1B Meagan Ruthrauff, Notre Dame’s cleanup hitter the last three seasons, is not only a potent RBI producer (120 in three years, ninth on the all-time Notre Dame list), but she also has outstanding plate discipline.
Entering the weekend, Ruthrauff needs just three walks to break Andrea Loman’s (2000-03) career record of 87.