This weekend the Irish will travel to the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., for their first tournament of the year. Notre Dame will take on Creighton, Oregon, Auburn, Oregon State and No. 1 Washington in a very busy three days.
Despite the lack of softball weather in South Bend, the team is ready to break out their cleats and mitts in sunny Arizona.
"Our hopes for this weekend are to come out strong and ready and to play and look like we have been playing outside for a couple months," freshman infielder Kathryn Lux said. "We are hoping to win all five games this weekend."
The Irish will look to Lux's older sister, senior first baseman Christine Lux, who was an All-American last year. She also led the team in home runs. Other key veterans the newcomers will look up to include senior third baseman Heather Johnson, junior shortstop Katie Fleury and junior outfielder Brianna Jorgensborg.
The freshmen are especially excited to play their first set of games officially representing the Irish, especially after demonstrating improvements during the off-season. In particular, the team is looking forward to freshmen pitchers Jackie Bowe and Brittany O'Donnell, catcher Amy Buntin, outfielder Kelsey Thornton and Kathryn Lux.
The players have had months together, practicing, eating together and training for tournaments like the Kajikawa Classic.
"We feel like a family. We mesh extremely well and we get along on and off the field. We pride ourselves in carrying the strong bond we have off the field onto the field when we play," Kathryn Lux said.
The Irish travel to Tempe, Ariz., with games at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Friday, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
