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state and their hopes of returning to the ncaa Tournament. asked what a potential tournament berth would mean for his team, bakich was all business.

“it means everything. i think stiffler understands that it would be naive to immediately place omaha expectations upon this adjusting team, but sees the talent apparent in his squad. and those players are ready to take the field for their new manager. as stifler says, “Guys want to play so much, they’ve been focused throughout the year, focused and prepared everyday”. he hopes to see a constantly focused team—one with “consistent messaging” — that prioritizes that same consistency over sexiness.

The core message of the irish baseball team this year, the same message stiffler used while back at vcu, is a simple one for his team to remember: how will you respond?

“The pitch or play after an error is made wins or loses a game ... it’s about how you respond to mistakes,” stiffler said.

“The program is in the hands of everybody says, ‘leave it all on the ice’, but you’re going to have to scrape us off the ice,” bakich said.

“We’re going to do everything we possibly can to win.” only four games remain in the regular season for the irish. after taking on the buckeyes, notre dame will have a bye weekend my players … they will decide how we respond to mistakes, weather, or whatever else,” stiffler said. stiffler’s vision of steady, mature play from his squad will be aided by an older roster that, despite enduring losses from last year’s cWs team, oozes with talent. When asked about his key contributors, stiffler said, “pick the best word. That is how i’d describe them”. Whether it be graduate student first baseman carter Putz, graduate student shortstop Zack Prajzner or graduate student outfielder Jack Zyska, the depth of the lineup and weapons in the field cannot be disputed. stiffler will also be looking to those aforementioned players, as well as graduate student left-handed pitchers aidan Tyrell and Will mercer, to be the key leaders for his team.

“if you were a young person coming into college baseball, you would want to learn from these guys. They are as good of leaders as i have ever been around,” stiffler before traveling to ann arbor to face no. 5 michigan in their final two games of the season.

“We’re in the position to control our own destiny,” blackmun said.

“We realize that if we win these big games against ohio state and then michigan, we can kind of change the course of our season right now.” said. one player who caught the hearts of the irish nation last year for his heroics out of the bullpen in the postseason, and another star on this team, is sophomore left-handed pitcher Jack Findlay. despite a short stint in the transfer portal during notre dame’s coaching transition, Findlay is back in south bend and “fully committed to try to replicate omaha and win it all this year”. Findlay has been working this offseason to “build on a good year”, adding more pitches to his arsenal, including a slider and change-up.

Two other players stiffler urges fans to keep an eye on this season are junior right-handed pitcher matt bedford and a defensive stalwart, sophomore infielder Jack Penney.

“i want to become a more wellrounded pitcher who can use new weapons to face hitters,” he said. Findlay sees the same potential in this squad as his manager. he says the team is in “a good spot to a season-defining weekend — and a career-culminating moment — is just around the corner for notre dame’s senior class.

The puck drops on Friday night at 7:30 p.m, and saturday at 6 p.m. after saturday’s game, the senior night festivities will take place. all 10 seniors will be recognized, as go back to omaha, a good spot with leadership ... we have all accepted coach stiffler pretty well and are looking up to him”. Findlay also possesses a level of patience similar to his coach. he emphasizes that this version of notre dame baseball is not merely trying to replicate the success of last year’s legendary squad. even if placing cWs expectations on this team in February is a bit much (it is), what is undeniable is that the irish will win a great deal of games this year. They will do so by employing the same defensive excellence and clutch hitting that has carried them through acc play and postseason tournaments the past few years. stiffler sees a team of “athleticism around the field with interchangeable parts … a team that can go 11-12 deep on the defensive end”. in stiffler’s eyes, the run-saving plays that players such as Putz or Penney can make are equivalent to a three-run homer. There is no confusion about identity for this will senior hockey managers mae irvine and meghan alexander. students are encouraged to remain following the alma mater to watch the celebrations, which will take place in front of the student section.

Contact Ryan Murphy at rmurph22@nd.edu

irish team.

as irish baseball continues this newfound era of excellence, you can feel the energy in this year’s team. There is energy in the clubhouse. There is energy with the players. There is energy with stiffler and his staff. The irish open their season in just over a week with a series against Lipscomb. conference play begins in march with a series in atlanta against Georgia Tech. notre dame’s home opener will come on mar. 21 against valparaiso.

This team is not last year’s team. Then again, they’re not trying to be. The 2023 notre dame baseball team is its own thing: a team filled with experience, discipline and an eagerness to maintain their position among the great programs of college baseball.

“We want the irish nation out here,” said stiffler. “We expect a great year.”

Contact Adam Akan at aakan@ nd.edu