Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1466176
42 MAY 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE I f there has ever been a case study in a young man predestined to play his college ball at Notre Dame, it would be Carter Putz. Rich and deep family roots in the South Bend area, a lifelong love and familiarity with the uni- versity and an apprecia- tion of exactly what be- ing a student-athlete at Notre Dame would mean both short and long term all helped map Putz's fu- ture course to compete and study here before he was even in high school. "This place is so special," Putz said when asked about fulfilling a childhood dream and becoming Notre Dame's star first baseman and a senior team captain. "My parents were born here, much of my family still lives here, so I've been a Notre Dame fan since the time that I could walk." A talented two-sport athlete, Putz said about t h e o n l y e ve n t t h a t could've kept him from coming to Notre Dame was if he decided to pursue a football career instead of baseball out of Bishop Miege High School in sub- urban Kansas City, Kan. Putz was a standout dual-threat quarterback at the football power, ea r n i n g ba c k- to - ba c k Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2016 and 2017 while leading the Stags to three con- secutive football state titles (2016-18). But realizing at a young age that baseball would likely provide greater long-term opportunities than foot- ball, he packed up his shoulder pads, grabbed his baseball glove and landed at the school where he always figured he would end up someday. Both of Putz's grandparents grew up and still live in South Bend, and so do many of his aunts, uncles and other extended fam- ily members. His grandfather, Todd Putz, has been an Irish football season ticket holder for about the last 60 years. Need- less to say, Putz generates a robust cheer- ing section at each of his home games. "I wouldn't change any of this experi- ence for the world," Carter said. "To be able to spend the last four years here, it really has been a lifelong dream of mine." And he's paying back the opportunity in spades. Through 34 games this season, Putz was second on the Irish in batting aver- age (.353), first in hits (48) and RBI (33), and tied for third in home runs (5). "He's consistently been a timely bat for us all year against righties, lefties, velocity, soft stuff," head coach Link Jar- rett explained. "That big two-out RBI is huge, and he's had a countless number of just big, clutch two-out hits." ✦ Baseball's Carter Putz Is Fulfilling A Childhood Dream Through 34 games this season, Putz paced the Irish in hits (48) and RBI (33), and was second in batting average (.353). PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS ND SPORTS BASEBALL (26-8 OVERALL, 11-7 ACC) After sweeping a three-game home series versus Wake Forest April 22-24, Notre Dame was tied for first in the ACC's Atlantic Division … The Irish were ranked between No. 7 and No. 18 in the five national polls … Notre Dame has ACC series remaining at home against Boston College April 29-May 1 and Pitt May 13-15, before wrapping up the regular season at Miami May 19-21 … The ACC Championship will be held May 24-29 in Charlotte, N.C. MEN'S GOLF The Irish recorded a program-best fifth-place finish at the ACC Champion- ship April 22-25 in Panama City, Fla., shooting a 16-under-par 848 … Notre Dame stood No. 13 in both the Golfstat rankings and the Golfweek coaches poll … The NCAA Regionals are set for May 15-18. WOMEN'S GOLF Notre Dame concluded its season with a 12th-place finish at ACC Champi- onship April 14-17 in Pawley's Island, S.C. MEN'S LACROSSE (6-4 OVERALL, 3-1 ACC) Following a 12-5 win over North Carolina April 21, the Irish were in second place in the ACC with games remaining at Syracuse May 1 and home against Duke May 7 … Notre Dame was ranked No. 6 in the Inside Lacrosse poll. WOMEN'S LACROSSE (7-8 OVERALL, 2-5 ACC) Notre Dame concluded the regular season with a 15-14 victory at Louisville and finished in fifth place in the ACC … The Irish were No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse/IWLCA coaches poll … Notre Dame was set to face No. 4-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship April 29 in South Bend. ROWING The Irish will compete in the ACC Championship May 13-14 in Clemson, S.C. SOFTBALL (35-9 OVERALL, 13-5 ACC) After sweeping a three-game home series versus North Carolina April 22-24, Notre Dame was in fourth place in the ACC … The Irish were ranked between No. 20 and No. 25 in the four national polls … Notre Dame will wrap the regu- lar season with a three-game set at home versus Louisville May 6-8 before taking part in the ACC Championship May 11-14 in Pittsburgh. MEN'S TENNIS (16-12 OVERALL, 5-7 ACC) The No. 9-seeded Irish were edged 4-3 by No. 8-seeded Florida State in the second round of the ACC Championships April 21 at Rome, Ga. … Notre Dame en- tered the week No. 35 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's team rankings. WOMEN'S TENNIS (13-12 OVERALL, 5-8 ACC) No. 9-seeded Notre Dame dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 8-seeded Florida State in the second round of the ACC Championships April 21 at Rome, Ga. … The Irish began the week at No. 42 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's team rankings. TRACK & FIELD The Irish will compete in the ACC Championships May 12-14 in Durham, N.C. — Steve Downey Irish Roundup Through April 25