Coming off a successful 2024, Notre Dame softball enters the new season with a few changes in its lineup and coaching staff. The team also brings back players who significantly contributed to its success last season.
The first change for the Irish is welcoming a new head coach. Last year, after coaching the team for 23 seasons and racking up 882 wins, head coach Deanna Gumpf announced that she would be retiring. Kris Ganeff, who graduated from Notre Dame in 1999, has been promoted to head coach after serving as Gumph’s assistant the past 23 seasons.
“It’s been very exciting, obviously I’ve spent a lot of time here at Notre Dame, it’s my home, and being able to take over the program has been like something that I covet and like [to] take a huge honor in because it is something I care immensely about.”
Ganeff is the fourth head coach in the program’s history and has goals for how she hopes to honor the team’s legacy. “Our whole goal from the get-go when I took it over is we’re going to honor the past and then create our own path into the future,” she said.
The team also welcomes back players who made their mark last year.
Ganeff talked about giving the players a full and positive experience at Notre Dame. “You’re going to see some kids who maybe didn’t get as many innings as they have in the years they’ve been here but they are going to now and we’re excited,” she said.
Sophomore infielder Addison Amaral was a standout last season. She played in all 50 games, finished with a batting average of .340 and led the team offensively. She also hit 10 home runs and battled in 53 runs.
“Addy is a special player. She is one of those kids that has a unique ability to just show up every single day and be locked in and it doesn’t matter what she is doing,” Ganeff said. “She could be having a conversation with a teammate, it could be in her hitting workout, it could be whatever it is she is doing, she’s always locked in and focused on the task at hand,” she continued.
Junior pitcher and utility player Micaela Kastor also returns for the Irish this season. Last season, Kastor finished with a team-best 10 wins in the circle.
Speaking on her general attitude on the field, Ganeff said, “Kastor is another one who is just a competitor. So every time she steps onto the field, if it’s to run bases, if it’s to fill a spot in a scrimmage to play in the outfield she is that kid that just wants to compete and win and her teammates know that so they are willing to get behind her and jump on her back because she is the ultimate competitor.”
Commenting on Kastor’s performance in the circle, Ganeff said, “She throws hard, she’s got different speeds, can put the ball up, down, horizontal and out so she’s truly a special kid.”
Senior outfielder Emily Tran also returns for the Irish. Tran finished with a .307 batting average and was a full starter last year. Even though she did not have her strongest season as a junior, Ganeff described her offseason improvement and high expectations for the senior.
“[In the offseason] Emily has been able to develop her toolbox offensively. ’m going to bet she is now going to do an even better job offensively in terms of consistency because she can drop a drag bunt down, she can slap in the infield, she can hard slap through to the outfield and she also can hit away,” Ganeff said. “She is truly one of those players when she steps in the box you’re not quite sure when you are defending against her what she is going to do so she does a really good job reading the defense and being able to use the tools that she’s practiced with our hitting coach.”
The Irish also welcomed freshman pitcher Brianne Weiss to the roster this season. Weiss was named MaxPreps First Team All-American and was the Orange County Softball Pitcher of the Year.
“She has the ability to spin the ball in a way that a lot of pitchers just don’t have that finesse, that ability to do that. It helps that she’s left-handed,” Ganeff said. “Being a left-handed pitcher in softball at that distance, where there are a lot of right-handed hitters in the lineup, she can come in on them, come up on them, she just has the ability to spin the ball in a way I think is truly special and we’re looking forward to having her out there.”
The Notre Dame softball team is nearing the end of offseason training as their first contest approaches. They will travel to Clearwater, Florida, to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic starting on Feb. 7, with the first pitch set for 10 a.m. against Morgan State.
