The Notre Dame baseball team's annual Irish Fall Classic is a cherished tradition that brings the squad together in a spirited competition. As the roster divides into blue and green squads, they engage in a three-game series, with the winning team earning the right to dress the locker room mannequin in their colors – a symbolic representation of their triumph until the next fall.

Unleashing Team Spirit: A Captivating Clash of Rivals

Embracing the Hype and Camaraderie

For senior catcher Joey Spence, the Irish Fall Classic holds a special place in his heart. As a member of the victorious blue team, he relishes the excitement and energy that surrounds the event. "We always feel the hype around the clubhouse, and the coaches do a good job of amping up the energy around it," Spence shares. "This is the first year that the blue team won, and it was definitely a lot of fun."The series is more than just a competition; it's a chance for the team to bond and engage in some friendly banter. "We're all jawing with each other during the week leading up to the series," Spence explains. "It was a lot of fun, and we all played hard — there was a lot of energy and a lot of good things."

Integrating the Freshmen: A Seamless Transition

The Irish Fall Classic also serves as an opportunity to welcome the team's talented freshman class and get them involved in the camaraderie. "It's fun to get the young guys or the freshmen — we have such a talented freshman class — and just getting those guys engaged and involved in all this, to see the energy that we have with all of the guys you know just trying to win a baseball game, it was a really cool thing," Spence says.The event helps the team mesh together, fostering a sense of unity that can carry over into the regular season. "It was really good," Spence reflects. "We have a lot of really good dudes on our team and everyone gets along and we all love each other already."

Drafting for Dynasty: A Strategic Approach

The Irish Fall Classic is more than just a friendly competition; it's a strategic endeavor. The teams are formed through a "dynasty draft," where players are assigned to either the blue or green squad and remain on that team for the duration of their time at Notre Dame."My first year doing it there was a blue team, green captains and blue captains, and so I got drafted to the blue team last year, so that means that I stay on the blue team this year," Spence explains. "The freshmen that got drafted to the blue team this year will be on the blue team for the next three or four years, so it's kinda cool — the dynasty aspect."The draft adds an element of strategy, as teams must consider both short-term and long-term goals. "You're either trying to build a team to win now or you're trying to look towards the future," Spence says. "It's a lot of fun. It's almost like playing a video game — you're trying to make a dynasty team."

Navigating Trades: Balancing Roster Needs

While the dynasty draft creates a sense of loyalty and continuity, the teams are not set in stone. Trades can occur to address roster needs and ensure that each squad has the right mix of players."We had trades last year and we have one more trade this year, but for the most part everyone stays on the same team their whole time here," Spence reveals. "It's usually based off of if a team doesn't have enough position guys or a team has too many pitchers — just the logistics stuff to make sure that everyone has the right guys for the right spots here and there."These trades add an extra layer of strategy and excitement to the Irish Fall Classic, as teams must navigate the complexities of roster management and find the perfect balance to secure victory.