Irish win against Boston College

career where he turned heads early.

Playing at powerhouse Austin Westlake, Greathouse entered the starting lineup as a freshman, no easy feat at a school loaded with future collegiate talent. he won district co-offensive newcomer of the Year that year, and his resume has gone from strength to strength since.

Part of his consistent production over the past half-decade can be attributed to Greathouse’s style of play. he’s not the most athletic of notre dame’s 2022 receiver early enrollees: that honor goes to braylon James. he’s not the shiftiest with the ball in his hands: that would likely be rico Flores Jr. but, he has a natural feel for working his way through defenses and coverages that translates from high school to college ball with ease.

Asked about Greathouse before the spring game, wide receivers coach chansi stuckey offered the Texan a unique bevy of praise. stuckey mentioned how “nifty” and “slippery” Greathouse is when running routes. such slipperiness was on full display saturday, as the freshman was almost always open on his 11 catches.

And when Greathouse was well-covered? As long as the ball was in range of his hands, he made sure it was secure. stuckey remarked the week prior that Greathouse’s ball skills were “out of control.” such sure-handedness is a trait that will play at any level of the sport.

Greathouse remarked after the game that while scaling his craft up to the college game is a constant process, he’s excited to continue his work.

“[I’m] working on it every day,” Greathouse said. “I take a lot of pride in my route-running. definitely just trying to improve in any way that I can. Adjusting to the speed of the game, it’s been a pretty big challenge. It’s a lot faster than high school. but I’m definitely slowly but surely getting there, and I’m excited for the summer so we can work.” one interesting factor in Greathouse’s development that has perhaps contributed to his elite ball skills is his basketball background. Averaging 13.8 points per game as a junior, Greathouse helped lead Austin Westlake to a 38-2 record and a state semifinal in his final season of high school basketball.

Greathouse mentioned his time playing basketball has helped him both in terms of general athleticism as well as specific mechanics.

“It’s been helpful for as long as I can remember,” Greathouse said. “It keeps me in good shape, for sure. And just being able to stay centered, trying not to get outside of my frame, that helps a lot too. Just the agility of everything, and being able to bend my body to where I can go and make plays is a big contributor.”

Greathouse ended his day saturday with 11 catches as well as 118 yards. he also fielded several punts for the Gold team. such special teams reps are indicative of the Irish coaching staff’s interest in getting the ball in Greathouse’s hands. That interest could prove major for Greathouse, who has a unique opportunity to play his way into a starting role. Unlike other saturday standouts such as sophomores nolan Ziegler or Jaylen sneed, there are no more experienced options standing in between Greathouse and playing time. notre dame has a sizable hole to fill at slot receiver. If the staff thinks Greathouse is the best player at the position, he’ll start week one against navy. of course, the blue-Gold game is just a step in a long road of workouts before Aug. 26. marcus Freeman repeatedly referred to the game simply as “practice 15.” but for a young receiver looking to make his mark early on, saturday was as good of a debut as Greathouse (and the notre dame coaching staff) could have asked for.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

By J.J. POST Associate sports editor

n otre d ame softball picked up its third consecutive series win this weekend, dispatching b oston c ollege in c hestnut h ill, m assachusetts. The series win didn’t come without heartburn for the Irish as n otre d ame placed themselves in a hole early, dropping the first game of the series on Friday. The Friday loss was more than just an annoying snag against a team ranked 86th in r PI. It was a game of constantly missed chances, as the Irish scored just one run with a combined 11 runners left on base.

o ffensive struggles would continue in s aturday’s doubleheader, but n otre d ame was able to emerge from the slugfest on top. In game one, the teams combined for seven runs in a largely painless Irish win. There was some panic for n otre d ame in the 7th inning, when freshman m icaela Kastor, who had been excellent all game previously, loaded the bases with zero outs.

b ut sophomore s hannon b ecker, aided by a fiverun cushion, was able to successfully get the Irish out of the jam to even the series. s oon after, the Irish bats would reward Tidd with a response. s enior infielder b rooke m arquez led off with her second double of the season. Freshman outfielder m ickey Winchell then worked a four-pitch walk, putting n otre d ame in nearly the same position as b oston c ollege an inning prior: runners on second and third, top of the order coming to the plate. n otre d ame softball will be back in action Friday at m elissa c ook s tadium against Florida s tate. First pitch will be 6 p.m. and the A cc n etwork will broadcast the game. season on sunday. relieving graduate student carter bosch in the fifth, spivey tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball to secure the sweep. spivey allowed just two hits and struck out one, recording the last 14 outs on an efficient 40 pitches. suddenly, an Irish team that entered the weekend with a good not great resume has its greatest piece of tangible evidence to back up their confidence.

In game three, there was once more late drama. A back-and-forth affair saw n otre d ame trail early, re-take the lead, and then allow b oston c ollege back into the game. Trailing by one in the 6th inning, the e agles had runners on second and third with one out. Facing the top of the order, Irish graduate ace Payton Tidd was able to negotiate a game-tying sacrifice fly and get out of the inning.

And after a line-out by junior catcher c arlli Kloss brought Joley m itchell to the plate, the senior infielder delivered. m itchell drove a three-run home run over the right field fence, putting n otre d ame back in control. m itchell’s late home run was reminiscent of her three-run effort against d uke, in which she also provided a 7thinning jolt of power to give the lead to an Irish offense that had struggled prior.

Unlike the d uke game, however, the Irish would close out the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Pitching her fifth consecutive complete game, Tidd put down the e agles’ order without issue. The graduate student ended the day with 7 strikeouts, including one on 8 pitches to end the game.

For n otre d ame to take home their fourth consecutive series next weekend, they’ll face a much tougher task than b oston c ollege. The Irish will welcome Florida s tate to s outh b end, a consensus top-five team across national rankings. The s eminoles have been especially hot in conference play; they’ve swept five of their seven A cc series, including a dominant display on the road against top-10 c lemson.

“our stats didn’t really add up to being a great team, but we were winning, or we were in every game. I mentioned to these guys several times that’s just because of the fact they’re winners. We will ourselves at times to be in games that maybe we shouldn’t be in. And so now that we’re actually playing better and performing individually, a little bit better, more hits are coming and than we’re pitching, we’re throwing more strikes. Plus, just you got these older guys are winners and so, that’s a nice combo.”

The Irish will be back in action this Wednesday at michigan state. First pitch is at approximately 6 p.m. esT. notre dame resumes conference play next weekend, playing host to Florida state from April 28 to 30.

Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu happy birthday: Take a serious look at what’s happening around you and how you can use your skills, intelligence and energy to bring about positive change. your contributions will make a difference and increase awareness regarding your character and long-term goals. set the stage for what’s to come and live up to your promises, and everything else will fall into place. choose to be helpful, not critical. your numbers are 7, 15, 24, 31, 38, 41, 49. gemInI (may 21-June 20): face sensitive issues head-on. your honesty will encourage a conversation with someone offering insight and physical backup to help you bring about change. A steady pace forward will help you gain onlookers’ confidence and contributions. 3 stars. cAncer (June 21-July 22): speak up, take a leadership position and do your best to stay within budget when helping others. negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you get a fair deal. Avoid situations that can damage your reputation or make you feel uncomfortable. leo (July 23-Aug. 22): stop and rethink your next move. consider how good an offer is before deciding to participate in a joint venture. be aware of anyone trying to push you into something or anyone who is vague regarding details and what’s expected of you. vIrgo (Aug. 23-sept. 22): seek knowledge and start a new endeavor. broaden your interests, pick up skills and connect with influencers and experts. Tell your story and turn what you feel passionate about into a cause others want to support. don’t let emotions interfere with progress. lIbrA (sept. 23-oct. 22): get out and have fun. Participation will lead to information and a connection to someone who can further your pursuits. honesty will be the deciding factor regarding someone you want to get to know better. Ask a direct question and give frank answers. scorPIo (oct. 23-nov. 21): love and entertainment will be costly. Put a cap on spending and what you put up with from others. A change of heart will encourage you to live life your way and to let go of what isn’t working for you anymore. sAgITTArIus (nov. 22-dec. 21): be guarded with your response to anyone prying into your affairs. Personal information given out too freely will put you in a vulnerable position. make changes to protect your passwords, priceless belongings and how you earn your living. cAPrIcorn (dec. 22-Jan. 19): Ignore what others do and focus on what makes you happy. fix your surroundings, make yourself comfortable and build a retreat that eases stress and is a welcoming environment for those you love. Improve your home workspace, and your productivity will skyrocket. birthday baby: you are proactive, helpful and sincere. you are sensitive and spontaneous. seconds remaining. That goal was the first of five straight in the period for notre dame. The last came from hagstrom again, marking the second of his career as well as of the quarter. but after c hris Kavanagh started the second by putting the i rish up 7-1, notre dame underwent another long scoreless streak, this time for more than 11 minutes. While the Tar heels started to find their rhythm, the i rish committed a string of unforced errors, uncharacteristic for a team that entered the game ranked third nationally in fewest turnovers per game. notre d ame ceded five turnovers in the second quarter, and eight total in the first half. This helped north c arolina trim the deficit from six to just two. a fter the game had appeared headed for blowout territory, the i rish went into halftime holding a narrow 7-5 advantage.

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“We knew those were the types of plays that we couldn’t let them have,” head coach c orrigan said about the easy Tar heel scoring opportunities that notre d ame’s mistake-prone plays allowed. “a nd yet, we created some of those plays with bad decision making on our part.” notre d ame’s scoring run came amid faceoff dominance from north c arolina. The Tar heels won 13 of 15 faceoffs in the second half, and 20 of 30 overall. The i rish were able to make up the possession deficit through strong execution on both ends and by having a slight edge on the ground ball battle, which has been a strength for the team all season.

That trend wouldn’t continue, as the i rish came out of the break looking more like their usual selves. They had no turnovers in the third quarter and just two in the fourth, and c orrigan was pleased with his team’s ability to limit mistakes.

“Luckily, we kind our gathered our poise and didn’t continue that,” he said. With that poise, notre d ame didn’t need long to regain control of the game. The i rish outscored north c arolina 4-1 in the third quarter before starting the fourth with a separate 4-1 stretch. When the dust settled, they had extended their lead to 15-7.

“it starts with toughness and wanting the ball, but it’s also awareness. it’s also an iQ for where the ball is going to be,” c orrigan said about notre d ame’s ground ball success. “o ur guys have been pretty good on that all year. it’s something you have to be good at if you’re going to be a great team.” a fter north c arolina scored a pair of quick goals, Pat Kavanagh fed sophomore attacker Jeffery r icciardelli for an i rish goal with under five minutes remaining. That would end up being the final score in notre dame’s 16-9 victory. c orrigan spoke about the veteran leadership that has guided the i rish through one of the best seasons in program history.

With the win, notre dame’s seniors and graduate students ended their regular season a rlotta stadium playing careers on a high note. They even got a final taste of vintage south bend weather, as periods of sunshine alternated with brief doses of a heavy wintry mix throughout the game.

“We’ve said all year that our leadership from those seniors and the fifth-year guys has been fantastic, as good as i’ve been around,” c orrigan said.

“For them to play their last regular season game here and get a big win is huge and welldeserved because they’ve been in front of our group the whole time. [They’ve been] doing a great job.” notre dame will travel to c harlottesville next sunday for the chance to avenge their earlier defeat against v irginia. That will be followed by another matchup with north c arolina, this time in c hapel h ill. The i rish likely need a pair of wins to stay in the hunt for an acc title and the no. 1 seed in the ncaa Tournament. junior safety m arty a uer. b lue began with the ball again on their own 35 and opened the drive with junior running back a udric e stime, who got eight on his first carry. a fter a b uchner pass attempt to e stime fell incomplete, b lue called e stime’s number again. They were rewarded, as the junior earned a first down with a rush up the middle of seven. b lue began to make more progress, and b uchner completed a pass of 11 to get b lue to the Gold 35. b uchner followed up his first completion for positive yardage with an incompletion (almost intercepted), a loss of one and then a pass that sophomore cornerback Jaden m ickey intercepted. a fter the turnover, Gold picked up right where it left off, making steady progress until a rush by graduate student wide receiver m att s alerno was blown up for a loss of eight. Though h artman made a nine-yard pass to Payne, Gold failed to convert a long third and punted the ball away. a fter a brief three-and-out, b lue sent the ball back to Gold, and Gold went back to work with three third-down conversions by h artman. h artman capped off the drive with a thirteen-yard pass to s alerno in the endzone, giving Gold a commanding 21-0 lead. b uchner, meanwhile, played on and started his next drive with an incompletion before making back-toback completions of 15 and 14 yards. The drive stopped after e stime lost four on a secondand-5 and b uchner threw consecutive incompletions for a turnover on downs. b uchner finished the scrimmage going 8-18, only netting 44 yards with an interception to boot. d espite b uchner’s poor outing, Freeman maintained that the two quarterbacks are incredibly close and that the team still has a quarterback battle.

Their work this season is far from over, as the topranked i rish will close out their schedule with a pair of acc rematches on the road before beginning what they hope will be a long postseason run.

To start his second drive, h artman appeared to call an audible before sending a deep ball to Thomas for 46 yards. now in a rhythm, h artman made back-to-back completions of 11 and four yards before handing off the ball to Payne twice. now situated on the b lue one, it was h artman who carried the ball, this time for a touchdown, putting Gold up 14-0.

The touchdown pass would also serve as h artman’s last game action. he finished the day by going 13 for 16 (81%) for 189 yards, tallying two scores through the air and a third on the ground. a dd his Qb r ating of 221.7 and the grad student could not have asked for a better outing.

While not committing to one quarterback as a starter, Freeman praised h artman’s performance.

“When we went out to look for a transfer portal quarterback, you don’t look for the second, third, fourth — you look for the best player in the country that would fit in your locker room. s am h artman showed today why he was extremely successful at Wake Forest, and i think he’ll be extremely successful here,” Freeman said.

“You can’t determine a winner or loser based off one practice, practice fifteen. a nd you can’t base a decision off of what we view as a certain outcome. There is a lot that goes into it. There is a lot that goes into a quarterback battle, but obviously quarterback play,” Freeman said.

With h artman on the sideline, sophomore quarterback s teve a ngeli came in as quarterback for Gold. While the team did not score, they moved the ball into b lue territory in the last five minutes of the half. however, Gold would only be on defense for a short time, as b lue went for and failed to convert a fourthand-4 on their own 49. Gold began what would ultimately be the game’s final scoring drive, as sophomore kicker Zac Yoakam nailed his 28yard field goal try, extending the Gold lead to 24.

The second half started much slower than the first, with a punt and a turnover on downs. b uchner was at the helm for Team b lue for two of those drivers. The first real action of the quarter came as Gold began to move the ball, with graduate student running back s am a ssaf extending a drive by gaining six on a critical third-andfive. Gold did end up turning the ball over, as a ngeli was sacked for a loss of three on a fourth-and-two.

The remaining 12:48 was spent by both teams trading drives ending fourth down conversion attempts, all of which failed. The game’s final play was a fitting interception by senior safety Xavier Watts, sealing the dominant Gold victory. d espite the lopsided affair, c oach Freeman was happy with not just the scrimmage but the entirety of the spring season.

“a s i told this group, you look at 15 practices and the progression we’ve made; it’s tremendous. They’ve got to finish up here with finals and get a couple weeks off. They get back here in June, and it’s time to go because we play Week 0. o verall picture, just from the spring, i’m really pleased with the progression of this football team.”

Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu