Ava Zachary will continue her academic and athletic careers at the University of Notre Dame.
Zachary was highly recruited by many schools, but she decided to attend the University of Notre Dame for three main reasons: academics, the family environment that the coaches and players provide, and the ability to play high-level Power 5 softball close to home.
“I am going to Notre Dame to play softball, but softball only lasts for the four years that you are there, while the education will last you a lifetime,” Zachary said.
The star third baseman led Penn in batting average in both her freshman and sophomore years and helped lead the Kingsmen to the 2023 4-A State Championship. Zachary was also named a MaxPreps All-American underclassman, 1st-Team All-Northern Indiana Conference, and 2nd-Team All-State. She also tied the Penn Home Run record with nine home runs.
Zachary believes that the highly competitive schedule of the Penn Softball program has helped prepare her for the next level of D1 softball.
“Playing the competition that we do at a high school level has given me and everyone else that’s a part of the program the biggest advantage when it comes to playing really big games against really good teams . . . to be the best you have to play the best,” Zachary said.
Penn head coach, Beth Zachary knows that Notre Dame is getting a great player.
“Ava possesses what college coaches call the 6-traits factor which includes: exceptional defensive skills, exceptional offensive skills, power, elite speed, game IQ, and the sixth trait is the intangibles that make up her overall character and being,” Coach Zachary said.
