Kaia Cortes Finds Home at Notre Dame After Losing Her Father

On Wednesday November 8^th, Kaia Cortes will sign her National Letter of Intent (“NLI”) to spend her collegiate years competing for The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The future ACC student-athlete first took the field at five years old, playing for a local little league team with some fellow softball players from the Tampa, Florida area.

Her father, Mike Cortes, who played Division I hockey at the University of Minnesota—Duluth, coached Kaia all throughout coach pitch, helping to prepare the young athlete for the day she and her friends would try out for a small Tampa Mustangs team.

Kaia played with the Tampa Mustangs—Rene for a significant chunk of her travel ball career, staying with the team for six years, developing as a left-handed power hitter and training as a pitcher with her father on the side.

Once Kaia reached high school, she started at Plant High School. However, during her sophomore year, she received news that would change her life forever. Mike Cortes had been diagnosed with an aggressive case of esophageal cancer.

The pair were inseparable, and, upon learning of his diagnosis, Mike expressed heartbreak that he wouldn’t get to see where his daughter would play softball in college with Kaia’s mother, Stacie Schaible.

On October 21, 2021, Kaia lost her father, softball sidekick, first coach, practice partner, and travel buddy.

A lot of things changed for Kaia once her father passed away. Now attending Berkeley High School, Kaia gradually stopped pitching, as this was something she practiced with her father, and leaned into her powerful bat.

“It’s not an easy thing to go through,” shared Kaia. “From that point on, it was always the goal for me to play college ball for him. He did everything in his power to help me to get there, so I felt that I was going to do it for him.”

Kaia made the decision to switch travel clubs as well, joining the Wichita Mustangs 18U after learning about the elite squad from her friend Hannah Church. Once a part of the program, she realized that this new competitive schedule would make all the difference in the recruitment process.

Coach Mark Griggs helped the talented left-handed power hitter get looks from colleges once the athlete joined the team—an easy task, given Kaia’s natural talents on both offense and defense, as well as her stellar character.

The University of Notre Dame’s head coach Deanna Gumpf saw Kaia’s performance and decided to attend several tournaments to watch the first baseman and outfielder show out on the diamond with the Mustangs.

After a tremendous summer entering her junior year, as the athlete led the Mustangs in home runs for the season, she was invited on several official visits, but felt a special connection with The University of Notre Dame’s campus and softball program.

Contacted right at midnight by the Fighting Irish’s coaching staff on September 1^st, visiting the South Bend campus was all Kaia needed to solidify her decision.

“She is thrilled to be committed to Notre Dame and knows her dad would be so proud,” shared Kaia’s mother. “We figure her dad was up in heaven pulling some strings to help make it happen.”

The move from Florida to Indiana will be a significant change of environment for the talented lefty, but having lived her whole life amidst the heat and humidity of the south, Kaia is more than ready for something different.

“I’m excited to just do it, you know,” said Kaia. “I love the coaches. I love the campus. I love everything about Notre Dame. I’m just super excited to dive into it and be able to play on that field.”

Kaia will graduate from Berkeley High School in the spring of 2024. After a final summer in Tampa, she will make the move to Notre Dame, where she will join the Fighting Irish as they prepare for a successful season in the ACC.

— Regan Weekly/Extra Inning Softball