SOUTH BEND, Ind. – With just over a month before the 2026 Notre Dame softball campaign gets underway, freshman infielder Ava Zachary was named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List, the organization announced Monday morning.
Zachary is a local product from nearby Mishawaka, Indiana. She was named 2025 Indiana Miss Softball and was a three-time All-State player for Penn High School.
A two-time Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee, Zachary hit .482 with 196 hits, 174 RBI, 169 runs, 41 doubles, 20 home runs and 79 stolen bases in her high school career. She hit .543 with 10 doubles, eight home runs, four triples, 62 RBI and 46 runs scored during her decorated senior year last spring.
The D100 Freshman Watch List is a true watch list; players are listed alphabetically by team with no numbered rankings attached. The watch list puts an early spotlight on true freshmen who could make an immediate impact on their respective teams.