PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

34. NOTRE DAME (45-17, lost in NCAA regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: Big East/1^st (21-5, 1^st in 2006; won conference post-season tournament).

Coach: Dave Schrage (first year; head coach at Evansville in 2006).

First Game: Feb. 17 vs. Prairie View at San Antonio, Texas .

OVERVIEW: The Irish suffered significant casualties from a 2006 team that won a record fifth straight Big East title. Not only did they lose five starters and their weekend pitching rotation, but the entire coaching staff left for Louisiana State , as well. New coach Dave Schrage, who led Evansville to a regional bid last year, inherits a solid nucleus led by senior C Sean Gaston (.319-1-30), and a double-play combination of junior 2B Ross Breznovsky (.295-4-42) and junior SS Brett Lilley (.320-2-32). Junior LHP Wade Korpi (7-2, 2.00) will head up a young rotation, while sophomore RHP Kyle Weiland (2-4, 2.37, 16 SV) returns as the closer.

X-Factor: Six-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore LHP Sam Elam (0-0, 2.19) has the highest upside of any player on the Notre Dame roster. He pitched only 12 innings as a freshman, but had a breakout summer in the Jayhawk League, leading that league in ERA and strikeouts. Still a bit raw, he attacks hitters with a 90-93 mph fastball and power breaking ball.

TOP FRESHMAN: A.J. Pollock, 3b. Lilley spent his first two seasons at third base, but moves over to shortstop, opening the door at third for the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Pollock. He might be the best athlete on the team. At 6.58 seconds, he owns the best 60-yard dash time on the team. His power and arm strength are also exemplary tools.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Kyle Weiland, rhp. An undrafted New Mexico high school product, Weiland didn’t enter college with a lot of fanfare, but his 16 saves as a freshman generated a lot of national attention. He has good control of an 89-93 mph fastball, but a sharp slider is his best pitch.

TOP JUNIOR: Wade Korpi, lhp. RHPs Jeff Manship (9-2, 3.26) and the highly-decorated Jeff Samardzija (8-2, 4.33) received much more attention, but the most effective Irish starter a year ago was the unassuming Korpi, a 5-foot-10 lefthander who struck out 94 in 76 innings while leading the staff in ERA. His fastball is only in the 85-88 mph range, but he relies on great control and excellent movement. His changeup is his No. 1 offering.

TOP SENIOR: Sean Gaston, c. A new coaching staff will depend on Gaston’s leadership and catch-and-throw skills as he brings along a young pitching staff in the early going. A good contact hitter with ability to hit the ball to all fields, he will also hit in the middle of the order this year.