College Softball News

Irish Softball Inks Four Players During Early Signing Period

Tony Jones, Media Relations Assistant – University of Notre Dame

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame softball head coach Deanna Gumpf announced Friday that four prep student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent and will attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2014.

Katie Beriont, a left-handed pitcher from Colts Neck, N.J. (St. John Vianney High School), Bailey Bigler, a left-handed outfielder from New Hope, Pa. (Council Rock North High School), Morgan Reed, a left-handed hitting, right-handed fielding infielder from Maylene, Ala. (Briarwood Christian School) and Sara White, a right-handed pitcher/infielder from San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo High School), will be eligible to compete with the Irish during the 2015 season.

“I’m really excited to welcome the 2014 Notre Dame softball recruiting class, they are extremely athletic and can make an impact right away,” Gumpf said. “The class is made up of speed and power on the offensive side, as well as pitchers who can move the ball and dominate all areas of the strike zone. Defensively, the 2014 class covers the middle of the field, with pitching and middle infield, along with a presence in center field.”

Notre Dame enters its first season as an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member after posting a 43-15 record during its final year in the BIG EAST Conference in 2013. The Irish logged a 19-3 mark in league contests to capture their 13th and final BIG EAST regular-season championship, and ultimately qualified for the program’s 15th straight (18th overall) NCAA Championship appearance last season after finishing as the runner-up at the BIG EAST tournament.

Notre Dame returns 13 monogram winners, which include four seniors and eight starters, in 2014.

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

Katie Beriont • LHP • 6-0 • L / L • St. John Vianney • Colts Neck, N.J.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Letterwinner at St. John Vianney High School … helped guide the Lancers to the No. 1 ranking in the final Star-Ledger Top 20 poll and its third New Jersey Parochial A state title in four years as a junior in 2013 … posted a 26-2 record, a 0.62 ERA, 229 strikeouts and only 29 walks during junior campaign … 2013 first team all-state selection, and was also tabbed as the Star-Ledger Monmouth County Player of the Year … 2013 MSG All-New Jersey second team choice … added a .438 average at the plate with nine doubles, one home run, 18 RBI, 13 runs scored and a .521 on-base percentage as a junior … compiled a 21-3 record and a 0.67 ERA in the circle as a sophomore, striking out 169 batters with 47 walks for St. John Vianney … 2012 second team all-state selection … perfect 13-0 with a 0.75 ERA as a freshman, logging 100 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 75 innings pitched … was the winning pitcher for the Lancers in both the 2011 Monmouth County and Shore Conference tournament championship games … named to the 2011 All-Shore first team … has participated with the East Coast Elite Gold and the New Jersey Nightmare Gold squads on the travel circuit … starting forward for the St. John Vianney basketball team … sister, Jane, is a senior at Notre Dame.

Coach Gumpf on Katie Beriont: “Katie has really impressed me with how she continues to progress as a player. She is tough on the mound and has shown she can fight. Her pitch movement has impressed a lot of people and it will be a big difference maker for us.”

Bailey Bigler • OF • 5-4 • L / L • Council Rock North • New Hope, Pa.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Letterwinner at Council Rock North High School … named to the SOL National Conference all-league first team as a junior in 2013 after batting .385 with 18 RBI and 26 runs scored … SOL National Conference all-league honorable mention selection as a sophomore in 2012 … competes with the Jersey Intensity 18U Premier team on the travel level and is coached by Kevin O’Donnell, the father of former Irish standout pitcher and current volunteer assistant coach Brittany O’Donnell … had previously seen action on the club circuit with Newtown Rock Softball (12U, 2009), Philadelphia Spirit 14 U Black (14U, 2010) and Liberty (16U, 2011).

Coach Gumpf on Bailey Bigler: “Bailey is an outfielder who defensively brings a dynamic style of play and is a flat out fast player. I’m looking forward to seeing what contributions she can bring to our style of play.”

Morgan Reed • IF • 5-4 • L / R • Briarwood Christian School • Maylene, Ala.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Letterwinner at Briarwood Christian School … batted .513 at the plate with eight home runs, 41 RBI and 61 runs scored as a junior in 2013, helping lead the Lady Lions to the Class 5A Area 7 championship – went 4-for-4 with an inside-the-park grand slam and five RBI in the Class 5A Area 7 championship game to pace the Lions offense in a 15-0 victory … successfully stole 38 bases, and had a slugging percentage of .983 during the season … was 10-7 with a 1.40 ERA as a pitcher, logging 88 strikeouts in the circle for Briarwood Christian … named to the 2013 ASWA Class 5A all-state first team as a utility player … 2012-13 Over the Mountain Journal Player of the Year … 2013 5A All-Tournament selection … 2012 all-county selection after hitting at a .507 clip with a .560 on-base percentage and a .910 slugging percentage … batted .516 with a .571 OBP for the Lions as a freshman in 2011 … most recently played with the Germantown Red Devils 16U Gold team on the travel circuit … batted .509 with nine triples, four home runs, a .555 OBP and a .766 SLG for the Red Devils during the 2012 summer season … batted over .500 on the club level during the fall of 2011 … will become the first Notre Dame softball player to ever hail from the state of Alabama.

Coach Gumpf on Morgan Reed: “Morgan is a competitor – she has a great arm, great range and has the potential to be a big play maker in the middle infield. Offensively, she hits with consistent power and has a great eye for the ball. She will be a great addition to the team.”

Sara White • RHP/IF • 5-11 • R / R • Rancho Bernardo • San Diego, Calif.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Letterwinner at Rancho Bernardo High School … 2013 second team all-state and all-San Diego Section Division I first team selection, and was also tabbed as the all-Palomar League Player of the Year after posting a 1.53 ERA and .175 batting average against for the Division 2 CIF champion Rancho Bernardo squad … 2013 all-Palomar League and all-CIF first team choice … San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team and Rancho Bernardo Scholar-Athlete Award winner … 2012 all-Palomar League first team selection, and was named the Rancho Bernardo team Most Valuable Player after tossing seven shutouts during sophomore campaign, including three no-hitters … 2011 all-Palomar League second team choice after leading the league with a 1.81 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 172 innings … earned the Silver Star Academic Achievement Award in 2012 for having a 4.0 GPA … played for the So Cal Explosion Gold travel squad, the same club team that future Irish teammate Emilee Koerner also competed with … has also seen time with the San Diego Power Surge (2009 ASA 12U national champions) and The Next Level Softball on the club circuit – current Irish pitcher Laura Winter played for The Next Level and attended Rancho Bernardo High … has earned additional letters in basketball and volleyball.

Coach Gumpf on Sara White: “Sara brings a lot to the table for us. She gives us a solid presence on the mound, in addition to her ability to hit and play defense. I’m looking for her to be a big contributor for us in the 2014 class.”

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