Inside the Diamond is a weekly feature during the off-season of NCAA Softball. Each week FPN will look at a 2016 USA Today/NFCA (final poll) top 25 team. FPN will look at the season that was and what 2017 may have to offer.
Next up: Notre Dame Softball
Irish Head Coach Deanna Gumpf led the team to a 43-13 overall record while going 13-7 in conference action. They made it all the way to the ACC championship game where they lost to Florida State. At the Ann Arbor Regional they posted a decent 2-2 record. Coach Gumpf and her staff were named NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the second time in three seasons. The Irish amassed 40 plus wins for the 18th time and the 12th time in the past 15 years under Gumpf. Karley Wester was named to the 2016 NFCA All-America third team, which is the second time in three seasons she has made the All-American team.
The Irish held a decent 3-5 record against top 25 opponents and they only lose four players from the 2016 roster. As a younger team they are poised to show improvement in 2017. Last year solid hitting and strong defense played big roles in their success. They return seven players who hit above .300 on the season. Leading the way were Wester (.446) and her sister Ali Wester (.423). As a team they ended up with the fourth best batting average in the nation (.347). They were also top 10 in fielding percentage (.974) coming in 10th. If they had a weakness it would have been in pitching where they carried a 3.24 team ERA. They lose one of their top pitchers in Allie Rhodes (19-6). Rhodes pretty much split time with Rachel Nasland (16-5).
Who they Lose
- Infielder – Micaela Arizmendi
- Pitcher – Allie Rhodes
- Infielder – Carly Piccinich
- Outfielder – Megan Sorlie
The loss of Arizmendi (.335) will impact the power numbers of the Irish as she hit 10 home runs in 2016. They should still be in good shape as Caitlyn Brooks (.335) is coming off a strong freshman season in which she hit 11 home runs for the Irish. Rhodes will also need to be replaced in the rotation. The most likely replacement for her will be Katie Beriont (6-2) who posted a 3.44 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 59 innings.
Who they Get
- Outfielder – Alexis Bazos (Pound Ridge, New York)
- Catcher – Madison Heide (Belton, Missouri)
- Infielder – Katie Marino (Warren, New Jersey)
- Infielder – Chelsea Purcell (La Habra, California)
- Infielder – Ellie Richards (Pendleton, Oregon)
It is not a large class and does not have a pitcher, but one thing is clear, coach Gumpf is looking to add versatile athletes to the team. Most of the class can play in multiple positions and all appear to be solid hitters.
Purcell may have an impact early as she is a refined hitter and has big game experience and can get things done with both her glove and her bat.
The other player who could find herself fighting for a starting spot is Heide. She can catch and play middle infield and brings a consistent bat to the Irish.
Offensively the Irish appear to be in great shape heading into the 2017 season. They also play great defense and that is something that should continue next year. As is the case with many teams the questions will come from the pitching staff. They performed good last year, but will most likely need to take a step forward if they are to threaten Florida State in the ACC. If Beriont or someone else can step up as the solid number two, this team should be better then they were in 2016.
