SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team begins a new era Friday morning in Clearwater, Florida, as Kris Ganeff takes over control of the program that she once played for and aided since 2002.
Ganeff is at the helm to start her 24th season coaching the Irish. Only the fourth coach in program history, she has been a part of 882 wins with Notre Dame, including 21 NCAA Regionals appearances and 11 conference titles.
‘Here Come the Irish’. A motto to define this new era of Notre Dame Softball and a motto that has been engraved since the start of the school year. The standards have been raised and the rise of competition and work ethic have followed.
Season Preview
Position Players
The Irish return six players who made at least 39 starts last season in the field and add six newcomers to the roster. There’s plenty of opportunity and competition up and down a motivated roster.
Infield
Addison Amaral comes into 2025 coming off a breakout freshman campaign. The Salinas, California native hit .340 and slugged a team-leading 10 home runs, 15 doubles and 53 RBI last year, becoming the first freshman to lead the Irish in RBI since 2007. The sophomore middle infielder was named to the Softball American Preseason Top 100 List and the D1 Softball Top-10 Second Base Rankings in January. Senior Anna Holloway, who played alongside Amaral for all fifty games last year, create an experienced duo up the middle for the Irish. Two incoming freshmen, Caitlyn Early and Avery Houlihan, have shined since arriving on campus and will compete for opportunities at the middle infield positions.
With a gap at first base following the graduation of former ACC Player of the Year Karina Gaskins, both sophomore Sydny Poeck and freshman Kaia Cortes could see time over at the corner. Poeck saw limited action last year, playing in five games and scoring a run, while Cortes comes in after a decorated high school career in Tampa and will look to make her collegiate debut in her hometown this weekend. Paige Cowley, who can both pitch and play first for the Irish, will also impact the team in a multitude of ways.
The Irish will also have to fill third base this spring. Sophomore Olivia Leavitt and freshman Caroline O’Brien will be vying for time at the hot corner. Leavitt comes into the season a year maturer while O’Brien’s glove and base running ability should vault her into different plug-and-play scenarios for Notre Dame.
Rachel Allen will transition back to catcher after primarily being the designated player last year. She registered 30 hits, four of them leaving the yard, and drove in 25 a season ago. Freshman Rebecca Eckart has also flashed potential in practices and brings plenty of pop in her bat as the two look to fill the hole left by All-ACC selection Carlli Kloss.
Outfield
Notre Dame returns an accomplished outfield with Emily Tran, Mickey Winchell and Jane Kronenberger all back. Tran hit .307 and stole nine bases while starting 48 games in left field a season ago. Winchell recorded a perfect fielding percentage in 49 starts in center last year to go along with 22 runs scored. Kronenberger started all 50 games in 2024, 49 in right field, and finished third on the team with five home runs and six doubles. Christina Willemssen, who made one start last year as a freshman and saw time throughout the year, will have the opportunity to see the field as well in different roles following a strong start to the spring.
Pitching
Notre Dame returns all of its 330.0 innings pitched from a season ago. Graduate student Alexis Laudenslager, in her second year with the Irish after transferring in from Princeton following the 2023 season, led the team in games started (24), ERA (4.04), innings pitched (131.2) and strikeouts (131) in first year in South Bend. Senior Shannon Becker, who was among the NCAA leaders in saves last year with five, tossed 84.0 innings a season ago. Becker’s 11 career saves are the second-most by a Notre Dame player since 2016. Junior Micaela Kastor led the team with 10 wins in 2024, including a complete game shutout over UIC last April.
After tossing 16.0 innings in 2024, Kami Kamzik comes into the spring looking to build off eight appearances of allowing zero earned runs. Highly touted freshman Brianne Weiss will look to contribute to the pitching staff after a remarkable high school career. Weiss was a Max Preps First Team All-American and the Orange County Softball Pitcher of the Year during her time as a prep. The southpaw will look to throw a wrinkle into opponents’ plans, especially after a 19-2 record during her senior year of high school where she struck out 245 batters in just 136.1 innings. Cowley, who also can play first, can also contribute in the circle for Notre Dame, giving the Irish multiple ways to attack opposing lineups.
Preseason Recognition
Addison Amaral
#71 on Softball America’s Preseason Top 100 List
#8 on D1 Softball’s Second Base Ranking
Kaia Cortes
D100 Freshman Watch List
Softball America Freshman Watch List
Brianne Weiss
D100 Freshman Watch List
Softball America Freshman Watch List
Caroline O’Brien
Softball America Freshman Watch List
NFCA Leadoff Classic Preview
Notre Dame opens up the 2025 season with six games at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic presented by MaxBP, hosted at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater Florida. The first five games are against teams who qualified for the NCAA Softball Championship. Four of the six teams the Irish will take on this weekend are either ranked or receiving votes in both the NFCA/ESPN polls. Two were in Super Regionals last season.
MORGAN STATE – Friday, February 7th at 10 a.m., Field 1
Morgan State set a school record for wins a season ago, going 35-20 and making the Durham Regional for the NCAA Softball Championship.
The Bears return the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year in Amber Rivas, who hit .311 on 56 hits with 12 doubles, three triples and 17 runs batted in during her freshman season. Head Coach Larry Hineline returns after being named the Co-Coach of the Year in the MEAC.
RV/RV KENTUCKY – Friday, February 7th at 1 p.m., Field 1
Kentucky made its 15th straight NCAA regional in 2024, competing in the Stillwater Regional last May. The Wildcats graduated eight seniors, but added multiple pieces in the transfer portal and the incoming freshman class.
Oregon State transfer Sarah Haendiges, who pitched in the 2022 College World Series, comes to Lexington following a 3.78 ERA last year. Kentucky’s three freshmen, Julie Kelley, Carson Fall and Allie Blum, all were named to freshman watch lists this preseason and should impact the team in some capacity.
#6/5 TENNESSEE – Saturday, February 8th at 1 p.m., Field 9
Tennessee is coming off a Super Regionals appearance and SEC Championship with high expectations nationally.
Reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens returns in the circle for the Volunteers after going 22-7 with 225 strikeouts in 188.1 innings pitched.
Tennessee will look to continue its strong power in the batter’s box after finishing tied for 6th in the NCAA last year with 84 home runs.
#15/15 MISSOURI – Saturday, February 8th at 6 p.m., Field 3
Missouri looks to build off a Super Regional appearance, but will have to replace their top-three hitters from a season ago.
Abby Hay, who hit .306 in less then 100 at bats last season, returns off an All-SEC Second Team nod. Cierra Harrison projects to be the top choice in the circle for the Tigers after going 14-3 with a 2.05 ERA last season.
RV/RV PENN STATE – Sunday, February 9th at 10 a.m., Field 3
Last year, Penn State made the postseason for the first time in nearly 13 years after going 35-20, including 12-11 in Big Ten play.
Florida Gulf Coast Transfer Megan Ricks is expected to be a big part of the Nittany Lion lineup after a strong fall.
In the circle, reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Bridget Nemeth returns after a record-breaking 23 wins with a 1.77 ERA.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN – Sunday, February 9th at 1 p.m., Field 3
Bethune-Cookman was 20-32 last year, but 16-8 in Southwest Athletic Conference Play.
Briana Velazquez will look to lead the team after hitting .325 last year with 22 RBI.
All games of the 2025 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic can be followed along on the Gamechanger app with live stats and streaming.