James Madison Dukes softball - Wikipedia 'Close your eyes and swing', The story behind OU softball players inviting opponents into postgame prayer circle, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. WebSara Jubas gave JMU the lead with a three-run home run in the top of the 3rd inning, and the Sooners answered with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning. The Cowgirls coach has a 24-7 open-door policy. Theyre playing games, and theyre laughing, and theyre laughing so loud securitys coming up to the room, Gasso said. "This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly," JMU Head Coach Loren LaPorte said. Fly high Lauren, your JMU Softball family will forever love you.. Again. You have permission to edit this article. It was definitely a lot to go through, Jubas said. Several hundred fans showed up to celebrate the teams historic achievement in Oklahoma City. In doing so, they became the first-ever unseeded team to start 20 in the WCWS and reach the semifinal games. After graduating, she spent the 2009 season as an assistant there before taking a similar position under Mickey Dean at Radford. Were gritty, said Newton, whose older sister Taylor played for the Dukes as an outfielder from 2014-17. Then, Christensen asked if any of the players wanted to share with everyone. Police escort in tow, team members got chills upon receiving the warm reception from supporters of all ages, from softball bat-sized fans to longtime loyal followers. Dubbed "Coaches + Mental Health: Creating Mentally Well Spaces in College Athletics," the webinar Wednesday evening was hosted by OU. But as Newton points out, thats an approach every player should take even in ordinary circumstances. 9 overall Tennessee and 43-win Liberty to come out of the Knoxville regional unscathed. LaPorte and JMU have renegotiated and extended her contract twice since she took over for Dean in 2017 on a one-year deal. OPINION: Morgan will be 22 forever. Don't knowingly lie about anyone She hit .778 and drove in seven runs during the three-game set. JMU sophomore Lauren Bernett, a catcher with the softball team and part of the Women's College World Series last year, has died. JMU 'in awe' after advancing to Women's College World Series. Just trying to take in every moment.". But the Dukes beat Missouri 7-2 on Sunday to win the best-of-three series 2-1. HARRISONBURG, Va.Its not a stretch to say the JMU Softball program captured the hearts and attention of sports fansand non-sports fans alikeacross the nation during the past several days. Bernett is the third Division-I female athlete to commit suicide in less than two months. You can cancel at any time. "Being able to do it on the road at two SEC schools, at Tennessee and then Missouri, it's pretty incredible. And the JMU faithful will never forget the magical ride of 2021. SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Sign up now for daily updates sent to your inbox, SEASON CANCELED: JMU softball team cancels remainder of season following Lauren Bernett's death, Ive been shaken, the OU softball coach said. As many have fixated on whats been happening inside the lines at Marita Hynes Field during the Bedlam series, many in the college softball world are focusing on whats happening in the hearts and minds of players across the country. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). After punching their ticket to the Women's College World Series (WCWS) for the first time, the James Madison Dukes advanced to the WCWS semifinals after beating #1 Oklahoma 43 in eight innings[6] and #5 Oklahoma State 21[7] in the first and second rounds of the tournament. Theres also a fierce competitiveness, particularly with this years team. The team includes freshman Meredith Wells, a Lord Botetourt graduate who made three appearances in April. Discovery Company. The Dukes have been to the NCAA Division I softball tournament ni JMU has won 26 straight games, including three consecutive wins over No. Boseman went 2-4 with 13 strikeouts in 24.2 innings last season, while Bermudez finished 6-1 with a shutout. Go to a night class or work on homework. We hope so, but sadly, evidence suggests she probably wont be. She hit .778 and drove in seven runs during the three-game set. LaPorte and her husband, former Roanoke College basketball player Josh LaPorte, have a 5-year-old son and an 8-month-old daughter. Use the 'Report' link on She pitched 26.2 innings during the shortened season, going 3-1 with 31 strikeouts. Don't Threaten. The suicide of James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett has staggered the sport. Connecting with his players is one of the things he loves most about coaching, so he is always picking at them, as he calls it. 5 Oklahoma State vs. Georgia, 2:30 p.m. No. JMU softball receives warm welcome home from Loren LaPorte - Wikipedia Among the singular legends publicly hopping on the bandwagon: Billie Jean King, Terrell Owens, Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Chipper Jones. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides information and resources. AD Bourne Committed To Keeping LaPorte At JMU So they just turned another gear and we were able to get it done.". Steve Staniland. 2. Santa Clara High School, Ventura College, SMU Football and Professional Baseball. LaPorte and her staff can choose to use that money for, among other things, recruiting costs or to pay for JMU to play in high-profile regular-season events. It throws us curveballs that we never know whats going to happen, but its how we stay together.. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Wake up. Savannah Reger | The Breeze Whiff. It also was the first time since 2012 that a non-seeded team played in Oklahoma City, as JMU and Georgia joined the 2012 LSU and South Florida squads. Jubas is one of 14 returning letterwinners this season, along with Gordon, outfielder Logan Newton, and pitcher/infielder Odicci Alexander. Theyre playing games, and theyre laughing, and theyre laughing so loud securitys coming up to the room, Gasso said. Gajewski is proactive in interacting and communicating with players. JMU Softball coaching staff release statement on Lauren Bernett. However, we want others to know the impact Lauren had on each of our lives, and each member of not only our softball family, but the entire JMU community. They made history, Daniels said. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. Thats why Gasso wanted to do that webinar Wednesday evening. Google searches for James Madison University increased more than 1,000% from May 31 to June 6. That battle mentality speaks to the theme of this years team, never back down. Smack. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline any time day or night at (800) 273-TALK (8255). Our pitchers are going to be fresh, so were not going to need to use as many.. Thats what we try to do here.. Both were athletes at Roanoke College. A giant inflatable Duke Dog and a swarm of fans awaited the JMU softball team Tuesday as the players returned from their stint in the Womens College World Series (WCWS). Are they getting help?, Theres just a lot of questions that I have., Carlson:At a time college softball has more parity than ever, it also has a favorite as clear as crystal. Although JMU freshman right-handed pitcher Kylah Berry gave up two runs in the top of the first, senior first baseman Hannah Shifflett put the Dukes on the board swinging on the first pitch, homering to center field. Go to practice. The team participates in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) and plays home games in Veterans Memorial Park. Softball Frankly, their mental health challenges can be exacerbated because they are athletes. She believes the upperclassmen have a responsibility to instill core values in the younger players. She is 16-1 with a 1.14 ERA overall this season and is also batting .343. [4] They then went on to beat #8 Mizzou on the road in the best-of-three series in Columbia, Missouri.[5]. The team's head coach is Loren LaPorte, leading the Dukes to a 14834 record in four seasons. The teams run to the Womens College World Series national semifinals will forever be etched into institutional lore. On Monday, April 25, she was named Colonial Athletic Association player of the week. Its been really nice being able to spend a little more time at home than I would usually, LaPorte said. We realize the value of having the JMU brand and what it means throughout the entire country.. Maybe. On July 31, 2012, LaPorte was announced as an assistant coach of the James Madison softball program. Odicci Alexanders diving play at the plate was the No. Please subscribe to keep reading. After a dominant performance in the regular season, the Dukes entered the postseason with a 341 record. The James Madison Dukes softball team represents James Madison University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) and plays home games in Veterans Memorial Park. JMU has won six CAA championships, including back-to-back Championships in 2016 and 2017. Less than 24 hours before her teams biggest series of the season began, Patty Gasso retreated to a quiet room at her house and clicked open a Zoom link. As an institution, were going to publicly acknowledge and use the energy thats been created by our softball program to benefit and showcase the entire university, Bourne said. Its just screaming for help.. James Madison University Softball It made me sit back and appreciate just being able to play. Wake up. Were super blessed to be able to be part of this, star slugger Kate Gordon said. Will the three-time Colonial Athletic Association coach of the year be courted by a school from a major conference, as Dean was? Yes, this was a big week for her and her Sooners. 2023 James Madison University Athletics, LaPorte Postseason, Team and Player Awards as a Head Coach. Get on the field. James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne addresses softball fans during a celebration welcoming the softball team home earlier this week from the Womens College World Series. OU second baseman Tiare Jennings goes for long drives with her windows down and her music up. 9 overall seed Tennessee before defeating Liberty again in the regional final. Virginia Tech wide receiver Dallan Wright entered the transfer portal Thursday and became the fifth player to leave the program since the conc. JMU has won six CAA championships, including back-to-back Championships in 2016 and 2017. JMU currently lists capacity at the softball stadium at 625. As a freshman, she started every game of the 2018 season, hitting .3.02 with seven homers and 25 RBI. Be Proactive. Eat lunch. Frankly, their mental health challenges can be exacerbated because they are athletes. Error! SUMMARY: After making history in the Womens College World Series, the Dukes returned to campus as heroes and JMU legends. Work out. We cant overstate how appreciative we are as you have reached out to us and continued to honor Lauren and her memory. James Madison University has announced the death of softball athlete Lauren Bernett -- one of the key players of the 2021 Women's College World Series. After taking the Dukes to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2019, LaPorte earned another raise, bumping her base salary to $92,500 with an extension through 2023. I hope it inspires more people to come to the university., "It was so cool watching them inspire so many people. Fifth-year senior ace Odicci Alexander, who earned third-team All-America honors in 2018 and 2019, has gone 4-1 with one save in this year's NCAA tournament. We have a lot of great pitchers on this staff, and we have a ton of strong hitters in the lineup to keep us in the game.. JMU fourth-year head coach Loren LaPorte (center), shown celebrating with her team after Sunday's win over Missouri, is a Roanoke College graduate and a former Roanoke, Radford and JMU assistant. It has served them well during a year that has forced everyone to live for the moment and not look too far ahead. She was serving as a panelist on mental health in athletics. CNNs David Close contributed to this report. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454. He signed a five-year deal upon his hiring in 2018 with a base salary that averages out to $150,000 per year. But he doesnt wait for players to reach out to him. Bernett was 20 years old. Crisis Text Linealso provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. JMU scored once in the bottom of the first. Make Yahoo Your Homepage. We absolutely love yall.. She died April 25 and the Western District Medical Examiners Office in Virginia told CNN Tuesday she died by suicide. Low 41F. Local high school softball teams have the talent to make deep No. We talk to the girls all the time about being able to handle change and adversity, explained LaPorte, now in her fourth season running the Dukes program. The word I would use to describe what they did is monumental, said Christine Prior (14), whose favorite part of the tournament was all the JMU home runs. Among the sports figures and entities tweeting about the team: the Washington Football Team, Ron Rivera, the Seattle Mariners, the Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball and Elliott Sadler. When Dean took the head coaching job at JMU for the 2013 season, he convinced LaPorte to join him. JMU (39-2) had fallen short in its first two appearances in the super regionals in 2016, when Megan Good and Bath County graduate Jailyn Ford were the team's stars, and in 2019. Team members signed autographs, posed for photos and soaked in all the adulation. Factor finds time to simply sit on her couch and decompress for a while every day during the season. Her huge heart showed grace and kindness to everyone she ever met. It is extremely heartbreaking and alarming to see whats going on throughout the country, she said. She was a staple of our program who we all loved so much. accounts, the history behind an article. Sign up to stay up to date with our daily headlines. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. JMU Softball gets exuberant welcome home after making Did you encounter any technical issues? Text HOME to 741741. Weve got to find better ways to do things.. LaPortes current JMU contract runs through the 2023 season. There will be a permanent void in our hearts and our hope is to live out her legacy and make her proud each and every day. James Madison's Odicci Alexander helps carry Dukes to The James Madison Dukes softball team represents James Madison University in NCAA Division I college softball. This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly, JMU coach Loren LaPorte said via a statement released in the morning by the school. Mickey Perry. That was something Gasso knew prior to the events of recent weeks, but in the aftermath of Bernetts suicide, she asked OU psychologist Dolores Christensen to meet with the team. All Rights Reserved. We again want to thank everyone for their caring thoughts and support during this time and we continue to ask for privacy as a program as we grieve and support one another.
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