Billy Boockford Class: Sophomore Hometown: Glen Ellyn, IL High School: Glenbard West Height / Weight: 6-1 / 195 Position: Outfielder/RH Pitcher Birthdate: 06/16/1987 Bats/Throws: R/R

Second-year corner outfielder who could be key member of offense after returning from knee surgery that held him out for most of '07 spring season ... has strong arm that is similar to that of Cody Rizzo ('06), another Notre Dame rightfielder who wore #17 ... tremendous athlete who can hit for average and power, with good baserunning for his size (6-1, 195) ... doubled to help Blue team win game-2 of 2006 fall intrasquad series (1-for-10 overall, 2 Ks) ... played for victorious Gold in 2007 BGS (1-for-10, RBI, R, SAC) ... joins four current teammates as part of Notre Dame baseball's deep ties to Chicago area ... the program's all-time monogram winners include 146 Illinois natives, among them: 1964 All-America SS Rich Gonski (De LaSalle HS), Academic All-America 3B Rich Vanthournout (St. Charles HS) and late-'80s ironman SS Pat Pesavento (Lockport/Joliet Catholic), plus crafty LHP Chris Michalak (Lemont/Joliet Catholic) ... could face Cangelosi Orioles summerleague teammate Tyson Blaser when Notre Dame plays Iowa in '08.

AS A FRESHMAN: Appeared in 10 early games before missing rest of season due to knee injury ... hit .292 in limited duty (7 RBI, 5 R, HR, 3B, 2B, 2 BB, 4 Ks, 4 SAC, 7 starts) ... tripled as starting RF in opener vs. Prairie View (2 RBI, R; 15-8, in San Antonio) ... doubled vs. Duquesne (2-for-4, RBI, R, SAC; 14-3, in Clearwater, Fla.) and hit 3-run blast vs. Dayton later on Spring Break (11-4, at Florida Gulf Coast).

PREP & PERSONAL: Three-sport standout who was named Glenbard West HS male athlete of the year for '05-'06 (team record .565 batting avg.) ... captained baseball, football and basketball teams ... all-state senior season as talented two-way player included 41 RBI, .902 slugging (6 HR, 3B, 11 2B) and .637 on-base (16 BB, 12 Ks) in 32 games, plus 1.65 ERA, 54 Ks thrown, only 19 walks and 25 hits allowed in 42.1 innings ... other '06 honors: all-area, all-conference, academic all-conference and team MVP ... played in Stevenson All-Star Game, McQuin All-Star Game and Area Code Games ... his all-conference/allarea junior season included batting .357 (4 HR, 4 3B) ... helped win two regional titles ('03, '05) ... beat eventual state champ Lockport in '05 ... hit .357 as sophomore (5 HR) ... named top prospect at Midwest Team One Showcase ... pitched no-hitter in summer playoffs ... named to all-area football team (QB/safety) and top guard on basketball team ... member of National Honor Society (also senior mentor) ... hails from same high school as ND softball sophomore Christine Lux and early-'90s tennis player Kristy Doran ... uncle Tom Bolster played basketball at Emory ... father Bill Boockford played varsity golf at University of Miami ... born June 16, 1987, in Hinsdale, Ill. ... son of Bill and Sarah Boockford ... full name is William Daniel Boockford ... economics major, in College of Arts and Letters.