Softball Brings in Four for Its Incoming Class

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame softball head coach Deanna Gumpf has added four to its incoming class, featuring three signees from California and an additional signee from New York as announced Wednesday.

Paige Cowley, Micaela Kastor, Gaelen Kelly and Makayla (Mickey) Winchell will be making the move to South Bend next summer. This class features a pair of two-way players, a catcher and an outfielder.

“I’m very excited to announced the Notre Dame softball class of 2022/2026.” Gumpf said, “This group brings a massive amount of talent. Each of these players come from a travel ball organization with a history of winning. With that, they will bring a championship level mindset to our program. All four players have the ability to make an impact from the moment they step foot on campus.”

Paige Cowley

• Pitcher/Utility
• Upland, California
• Upland High

“Paige is a talented pitcher who is a master of spin.” Said Gumpf, “Her pitches constantly force swings and misses. She’s a dual threat because she is a strong two-way player who provides power to our lineup.”

A two-time team captain at Upland High, Cowley has earned three varsity softball letters so far in her career. She was a two-time first team all-Baseline League selection and helped her team earn a 25-2 record last year. During the 2021 season, she earned a 1.90 ERA in 73.0 innings of work and struck out 144 hitters. She made 13 starts, appearing in 27 games.

She competed with the Firecrackers Brashear 18U team during club play.

Cowley has two aunts that have played collegiate softball as Jamie and Sarah Farnworth played at Long Beach State and Utah and Cal State Northridge, respectively. Her cousin Stacey Farnworth played at Utah as well as Arizona State.

She also volunteers helping her aunt coach a 10U travel ball team. She assists with practices and has worked with the Spark of Love Christmas Toy Drive.

“I chose Notre Dame because I wanted a place that would give me a competitive softball program, where I would have a real opportunity to win a national championship.” Cowley said, “The coaches have also built an amazing culture that I really wanted to be a part of. I also wanted a place that would push me academically and set up the future that I want for myself.”

Micaela Kastor

• Pitcher/Utility
• Simi Valley, California
• Oaks Christian

“Micaela is a fierce and gritty competitor in the circle.” Gumpf stated, “She thrives on the challenge. Not only is she a great pitcher, but also one of the best defensive pitchers in the game.”

A two-way player from Simi Valley, California Kastor was a four-time letterwinner at Oaks Christian under head coach Pete Ackerman. She earned first team All-Marmonte League honors four times, as well as earning Daily News all-area and Ventura County Star first team all-star honors. She was also selected to the 2018-19 super regional team, was a four-time first team all-western region and first team National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School all-region. She was also named all-state four times. After being named Rookie of the Year in 2019, She was the 2021 Marmonte League Pitcher of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

In her final season, she hit for a .471 average with three home runs and scored 32 times. In the circle, she earned a 0.75 ERA in 122 innings of work. She finished with a 16-3 record and 149 strikeouts in her 19 appearances.

She competes with the Firecrackers Rico 18U team where she led her team to win the 2021 TC National Championship, throwing a complete game against Athletics Mercado in a 6-5 win to close the weekend out 10-0.

Off the field, Kastor has been involved in film production classes and is a member of the Institute of Arts and Innovation at Oaks Christian. She recently produced a three-time award winning short film that has been accepted into several film festivals across the country.

“I chose Notre Dame for the amazing community of people on and off the field and campus, as well as for the extensive academic opportunities and connections at hand.” Said Kastor.

Gaelen Kelly

• Catcher/First Base
• Hopewell Junction, New York
• John Jay High

“Gaelen is a skilled catcher who will bring a unique look to our battery.” Stated Gumpf, “Her craft is framing pitches and understanding a pitcher’s mindset. At the plate, she will provide a powerful punch to our lineup.”

Kelly joins the Irish after earning varsity letters from John Jay High in New York where she played for head coach Lawrence Brooks. Last season she was named first team all-state by the Poughkeepsie Journal, as well as being named an all-section honoree. She stormed onto the scene as a freshman, earning all-league honors and was named honorable mention all-section.

She enters her final season after hitting for a .567 average in 60 at bats where she drove in 30 runs while swiping five bases.

She competed with the Empire State Huskies 18u squad. In her final season with the Huskies, she hit for a .350 average.

Also at John Jay High, she was a member of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society as well as earning a spot on the high honor roll. She’s worked on several community service projects through the National Honor Society, while also volunteering to coach for the Empire State Huskies youth softball program.

“I chose Notre Dame because it has been my dream to attend school and play softball here since I first stepped on campus in the summer of ninth grade.” Kelly said, “The culture and traditions that define the university have always made me feel valued and at home.”

Mickey Winchell

• Outfielder
• Livermore, California
• Granada High

“Mickey is a commanding outfielder and is a triple threat at the plate, capable of changing the game with her offensive dominance.” Gumpf said, “She is an aggressive baserunner who can create chaos on the base paths.”

Winchell enters her senior season with three varsity softball letters from Granada High where she played for head coach Johnny Heinz. A two-time all-East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) first team selection, she was named her team’s most valuable player. She was a 2021 West Coast Preps CalHiSports All-Bay area first team as well as Mercury News Bay Area High School softball top 40. As a freshman in 2019, she was the Granada High offensive player of the year as she went on to earn all-EBAL honorable mention.

As a prep athlete, she hit for a career .416 average with four home runs, drove in 38, scored 39 times and stole 25 bases. Her junior season she recorded a .519 average in 77 at bats, and hit half of her career home runs as well as swiping 18 bases. She hit for a career-best .542 in the shortened 2020 season in 24 at bats and led her team to the second round of North Coast Section playoffs as a freshman.

She competed with the So Cal Athletics Richardson 18G team where she was a team captain.

Winchell volunteered with several organizations as she was her class’s treasurer, as well as a 2021-22 Young Life Leader, a volunteer and camp assistant for the Taylor Family Foundation and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Her family is no stranger to collegiate athletics as she her cousin played football at Nebraska, and another cousin played soccer at San Jose State.

“I chose Notre Dame for many reasons.” Winchell said, “The foundation of Notre Dame is built on traditions, values, faith and family. The education is second to none. There is a small town feel in the community and endless support and opportunities for student-athletes. The softball stadium, facilities, trainers and support staff are amazing. The softball coaches have a synergy and create a culture like nothing I have experienced. They carefully select players that fit within their supportive, yet competitive culture. The players embrace new recruits and make them feel a part of the team immediately. It is my belief that the core of a team’s success is engrained in the coaching staff along with the talent and the unity of the team all wanting to compete at the highest level and towards the same team goals. For all of these reasons and more, I chose Notre Dame. Go Irish!”

—ND—