Nov. 16, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame softball head coach Deanna Gumpf recently announced the signing of five prep student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.
Dana Bouquet (Santa Maria, Calif.), Maddie Marotti (Columbus, Ohio), Rachel Nasland (San Diego, Calif.), Kimmy Sullivan (Greenwood, Ind.) and Karley Wester (Huntington Beach, Calif.) will be eligible to compete for the Fighting Irish starting with the 2014 season.
“This is definitely a strong class of five players, a very impactful class,” Gumpf said. “A number of these girls I see as starters right away. I think this class has the potential to do many great things during their careers at Notre Dame.”
Notre Dame finished the 2012 season with a 40-16 record, reaching the BIG EAST Championship game at Melissa Cook Stadium to earn its 14 consecutive invitation to the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Irish won 17 straight games during one stretch of the campaign’s second half, including 11 contests by four runs or more. Notre Dame returns 13 Monogram winners in 2013.
For more information on Notre Dame softball, follow the team @NDsoftball on Twitter or Facebook.com/NDSoftball.
Dana Bouquet – UTL – 5-5 – R / R – St. Joseph – Santa Maria, Calif.
PREP AND PERSONAL: Varsity letterwinner in her first three seasons at St. Joseph High School … all-league and LCCN All-Area selection as a junior … finished with the top batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the Pac 7 League as a freshman, earning all-league and all-CIF honors … named to the 2010 Santa Barbara News Press All-County and Best of the West All-Tournament teams … four-year member of the San Jose Sting club team … won the American Softball Association of America/USA Softball 14U National Championship and was on the third-place 2012 Premier Girls Fastpitch Softball Nationals 18 Gold tournament team with the Sting … has also earned letters in tennis, volleyball and soccer … named Pac 7 Defensive Most Valuable Player and Santa Barbara News Press All-County Goalkeeper in soccer as a junior … received St. Joseph’s 3 Varsity Sport Award in 2012 … chapter president of the Make A Wish Club … member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … has served as a youth leader, and participated in Music Ministry … daughter of Mike and Tricia Bouquet … has two sisters, Whitney and Claire.
Gumpf’s Take on Bouquet: “Dana is a phenomenal athlete who is able to play a number of different positions. She is a born leader, and I think those attributes will make her very successful in our program.”
Maddie Marotti – INF – 5-4 – R / R – Bishop Watterson – Columbus, Ohio
PREP AND PERSONAL: Earned three varsity letters in softball at St. Francis High School in Gainesville, Fla. … batted a blistering .607 as a junior with six triples, six home runs, 27 RBI and 27 stolen bases … was a Florida 3A All-State first team selection, and was named St. Francis’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive season … .532 hitter as a sophomore, and added 18 steals on her way to all-area second-team honors … enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign with a .906 slugging percentage and 25 RBI … will complete her senior season at Bishop Watterson High School … played for the Gainesville Gators 14U/18U and Team North Florida 16U club teams, and is currently a member of the Ohio Nightmare 18U Gold club squad … Team North Florida finished 8th out of 136 teams at the 2012 16U Nationals in Montgomery, Ala. … selected to the 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Tournament team … member of the National Honor Society … participated in both the Spirit Club and Well and Fitness Club at St. Francis … has served as a youth group leader … daughter of Mickey and Susie Marotti … has one brother, Mitchell … father, Mickey, played football at West Liberty State, and was the director of strength and conditioning at Notre Dame from 1998-05 … plans to major in American studies.
Gumpf’s Take on Marotti: “Maddie is that player on the field that you love to watch because she makes things happen, whether it is at the plate or on the bases. She’s fast, she’s aggressive, just a hardcore worker who loves to get after it on the field.”
Rachel Nasland – RHP – 5-8 – R / R – Torrey Pines – San Diego, Calif.
PREP AND PERSONAL: Has won three letters in softball at Torrey Pines High School … posted a 17-2 record with a 0.55 ERA and a career-high 205 strikeouts as a junior team captain … walked only 28 batters in 139 innings pitched for the 2012 Palomar League and CIF Division I champions … named the Palomar League Pitcher of the Year, and was selected to the all-Palomar League and all-CIF first teams … career-low 0.49 ERA as a sophomore in 2011 … 14-1 with an 0.97 ERA and 183 strikeouts as a freshman for the 2010 Avocado League champion Torrey Pines squad … recognized as the Avocado League and Division I CIF Pitcher of the Year … competes with The Next Level club team … member of the 2011 16U American Softball Association of America Southern California State and ASA 16U National Championship teams … club also won the 2012 18U Champions Cup … member of the California Scholarship Federation … daughter of Steve and Mary Nasland … has two brothers, Mike and Nick … has one sister, Alexa … Fighting Irish pitcher Laura Winter played for the same club team.
Gumpf’s Take on Nasland: “Rachel is considered one of the best pitchers the country, and has a great mix of pitches. I am looking forward to seeing her excel in the college game. I think what sets her apart from other pitchers is how detail oriented she is, always doing the little things to make herself better.”
Kimmy Sullivan – INF – 5-9 – R / R – Center Grove – Greenwood, Ind.
PREP AND PERSONAL: Three-year varsity letterwinner and starter at Center Grove High School … member of three consecutive Metro Interscholastic Conference championship teams … batted at a .495 clip with 49 hits, eight home runs, 43 RBI and 48 runs scored as a junior, earning MIC All-Conference and third team all-state recognition … finished the 2011 campaign with a .429 batting average and five home runs, was an all-conference honoree and was named to the Indianapolis Star Super Team … posted a career-best .519 average as a freshman for the Trojans, logging 56 base hits, 49 RBI and 49 runs scored … was named third team all-state and selected to the Indiana All-Metro South Team … participated in volleyball during first two years at Center Grove, earning a varsity letter as a sophomore … plays with the Indiana Magic Gold club team for coach Kim Clay, the father of former Fighting Irish player Alexia Clay … the squad finished in 17th place at the Amateur Softball Association of America Gold Nationals in 2011 … three-time MIC Academic All-Conference selection … member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society … National Merit Commended Student … has served as an umpire for the recreation 8U Center Grove Lassie League … daughter of Mark and Julie Sullivan … has one sister, Katie … father, Mark, competed in track and field at Tri-State University … plans to major in biological sciences.
Gumpf’s Take on Sullivan: “Kimmy is a player who has a great, powerful bat (15 home runs in her first three high school seasons). I also love her stability defensively, as she has seen significant time at both first and third base in her high school career.”
Karley Wester – OF/INF – 5-8 – L / R – Edison – Huntington Beach, Calif.
PREP AND PERSONAL: Four-year softball letterwinner at Edison High School … batted .406 with 23 stolen bases, 36 runs scored and a .542 slugging percentage as a junior, earning all-Sunset League first team and all-Orange County second team honors … hit at an even .500 clip as a sophomore, adding 22 steals and scoring a career-high 38 runs … named Sunset League Sophomore of the Year, and was tabbed to the all-Sunset League and all-Orange County first teams … selected as the Sunset League Rookie of the Year after batting .405 as a freshman … plays for the So. Cal Firecrackers club team … squad won the 2011 and 2012 Colorado Fireworks Tournament and Canada Cup championships … has also lettered in soccer and volleyball … two-time all-Sunset League soccer selection … 2012 Edison High School Pillar of Character Award winner … CIF Southern Section Champion of Character … 2012 ABC Academic Honoree Pins winner … 2011 ABC Academic Honoree Letterwinner … daughter of Gary and Sue Wester … has two sisters, Ali and Riley … father, Gary, competed in track and field at the University of Wisconsin … former Fighting Irish standout Dani Miller and current players Lauren Stuhr and Casey Africano attended same high school … plans to major in biology.
Gumpf’s Take on Wester: “Karley is a game-changer, she can do it all offensively. At bat, she has an amazing short game, and she can also hit the long ball. She’s fast on the bases, aggressive, can play infield or outfield on defense, just a great overall athlete.”
–ND–