Last weekend, Gasso asked the players to write letters to their parents and guardians, expressing what those adults mean to them. A redshirt junior, Jubas started all 19 of the Dukes games at shortstop in 2020, batting .439 with five home runs, 14 RBI, and seven doubles. The Dukes will face No. Be Truthful. JMU 'in awe' after advancing to Women's College World Series. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much You have permission to edit this article. They made history, Daniels said. Work out. It made me sit back and appreciate just being able to play. Ive been shaken, the OU softball coach said. Tara Daniels, a diehard fan of the Oklahoma Sooners who lives in east Texas, showed up wearing purple, carrying a JMU sign and on a mission to get Alexanders autograph. Thats why Gasso wanted to do that webinar Wednesday evening. 8/4/2022 12:00:00 PM. Thats something that over the last few years has seemed to be even more prominent. 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. The James Madison softball team is the first Virginia team to make the Women's College World Series in 13 years. James Madison fifth-year senior ace Odicci Alexander is 16-1 this season, including 4-1 in the NCAA tournament. 5 Oklahoma State vs. Georgia, 2:30 p.m. No. The pitcher said she went through a low point last season but grew from the support of her teammate. Get on the field. Don't Threaten. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Dean left JMU in the summer of 2017 to take the reins at Auburn. Make Yahoo Your Homepage. Data about campus suicides is difficult to come by. 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. James Madison canceled the remainder of its softball season Monday morning as the Dukes continue to grieve last months death of sophomore catcher Lauren Bernett. I think they get frustrated early, he said. Football head coach Curt Cignetti, deans, administrators and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed were among the dignitaries in the crowd. Last season, Bernett and her teammates shined when they made national headlines with the Dukes unexpected, first-ever run to the Womens College World Series national semifinals. On September 14, 2017, Loren LaPorte 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. Even intrasquad scrimmages can be as intense as a championship game. Classifieds from the paper, direct every weekday to your inbox. She allowed two runs in four-plus innings. Eat lunch. Institutions like ours are all going to do what they can to keep their coaches. This year's Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City features UCLA, Oklahoma and five other programs that have been there before. Other resources include: The Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day. 2 UCLA, 9:30 p.m. Mark Berman covers Virginia Tech mens basketball and many other teams at the university. accounts, the history behind an article. She leads the Dukes in home runs this season with seven, along with 21 RBIs. Practice for three hours. On Sunday, April 24, she finished a monster weekend, going 4-for-4 with a homer and two doubles in the series finale against Drexel. Since last March, LaPorte has experienced a shutdown 19 games into the season, having a baby, a reduced schedule this season, and two games already canceled due to COVID-19. Gary Walin. Were super blessed to be able to be part of this, star slugger Kate Gordon said. James Madison University Softball Player Lauren Bernett Dies A cause of death has not been revealed By NBC Sports Staff Published April 26, 2022 Updated Making History: JMU Softball upsets No. 1 Oklahoma JMU scored once in the bottom of the first. or anything. The suicide of James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett has staggered the sport. "We walk in the hotel, there's Women's College World Series banners everywhere. They need professional help. She was serving as a panelist on mental health in athletics. The support that our administration and our president gives us, I mean, we couldnt ask for anything more. "We are so excited to be adding them to the JMU Softball family," said LaPorte. WebCamarillo High School Wrestling Coach. You can cancel at any time. Crisis Text Linealso provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741. Ive been able to spend that newborn time with her that I missed a little bit with my son.. Get the most important Softball stories delivered straight to your inbox. HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The following statement has been issued from the James Madison Softball coaching staff regarding the untimely death of catcher and sophomore Lauren Bernett: Finding the words to describe what our team is going through right now feels nearly impossible. We dont have much time throughout the day … but we can celebrate the joyful things and the small things.. LaPortes current JMU contract runs through the 2023 season. Whats hard this year is that were only playing 34 games. This isnt how you win, she thought. The Cowgirls coach has a 24-7 open-door policy. While that decision was due to the ongoing concerns of the pandemic, it also affords LaPorte the luxury of staying close to her family and watching her infant daughter grow. How pressure of college sports can harm athletes' mental health. The Cowgirls coach has a 24-7 open-door policy. Josh, he's from Staunton. She served an assistant coach for five years and was elevated to head coach in September of 2017. Last season, she was part of the Dukes magical run to the Womens College World Series, catching for breakout star Odicci Alexander, but this season, Bernett was having her own breakout. 'Close your eyes and swing', The story behind OU softball players inviting opponents into postgame prayer circle, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Theres also a fierce competitiveness, particularly with this years team. It's a mixture of emotions that many in the JMU community and across the city of Harrisonburg, Virginia have experienced since the death of Lauren Bernett. She worked primarily with the infielders until becoming head coach prior to the 2018 season, after Dean took over the Auburn program. Slight chance of a rain shower. The catcher had just been named Player of the Week by the Colonial Athletic Association. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. [4] They then went on to beat #8 Mizzou on the road in the best-of-three series in Columbia, Missouri.[5].