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Diamars 3 mei 2022

JMU cancels rest of softball season after player’s suicide

(AP) — James Madison death a suicide.
has canceled the remain-
der of its softball season “This was an extremely dif-
as the school tries to cope ficult decision and one that
with the suicide of one of was not made lightly,” JMU
its star players last week. coach Loren LaPorte said in a LaPorte said the school rec- and a three-game league series James Madison (21-21, 10-5
news release of the cancella- ognizes the decision brings May 6-7 against Elon. Five CAA) was one game behind
Lauren Bernett, a sophomore tion. “We are so grateful for an abrupt end to the careers games previously were can- Delaware for the top spot in
catcher and cleanup hitter for the support of our fans all of seniors on the team, and celed: a doubleheader against the league before Bernett’s
the Dukes, died April 25 fol- season and for the love from “we will make sure that they Longwood and a weekend death.
lowing a stellar weekend se- the softball community dur- are honored for the commit- series with Delaware. The
ries against Drexel, for which ing the past week. We will use ment and dedication they series with the Blue Hens, as In tribute to Bernett, teams
she was named the Colonial this time to continue healing have made as student-ath- well as one with Elon, have including Liberty and Ten-
Athletic Association’s player and to honor Lauren’s mem- letes.” been declared no contests, nessee have worn purple
of the week. The Medical ory while finishing the aca- with no bearing on the con- ribbons in their hair during
Examiner for the Western demic semester strong.” The cancellations include a ference standings. games.
District of Virginia ruled the May 3 game against Virginia

She’s up! Whitmore 1st woman to start Atlantic League game

(AP) — Kelsie Whitmore fonzo’s lineup for the Ferry- then pulled for a pinch-hitter Whitmore is a two-way play- Atlantic League teams are
played left field and bat- Hawks’ game at the Gastonia in a 10-5 loss. er and has been working with not big league affiliates, but
ted ninth for the Staten Is- Honey Hunters. pitching coach and former the circuit is an MLB partner
land FerryHawks on Sun- Flawless in the field, Whit- big leaguer Nelson Figueroa, league. It’s a step up in qual-
day, becoming the first Whitmore, a right-handed more caught a couple of fly- but she’s yet to pitch in a ity from the Pacific Associa-
woman to start a game in hitter, went 0 for 2. She balls hit in her direction. game for Staten Island. tion.
the Atlantic League and struck out in her first at-bat,
one of the first to do so in was hit by a pitch in the sec- Whitmore had previously A former college softball “I’m grateful for all the op-
a league connected to Ma- ond — she hustled toward come off the bench for Stat- player at Cal State Fullerton, portunities I’ve been given,”
jor League Baseball. first base after being struck in en Island, making her debut Whitmore signed with Staten Whitmore said prior to the
the arm by a breaking pitch on April 21 at Charleston as Island this month, one of season. “This one, by far, I’m
The 23-year-old Whitmore — and flied out to right in a pinch-runner with two outs several notable moments for really looking forward to, be-
cracked manager Edgardo Al- her third time up. She was in the ninth inning. women in baseball this sea- cause it’s next level for me.”
son.
At least two other women
Last month, San Francisco have played in a league with
Giants coach Alyssa Nakken a connection to MLB: Lee
filled in as first base coach, Anne Ketcham and Julie Cro-
becoming the first woman teau were on the Maui Sting-
to coach on the field for a rays in the Hawaiian Winter
big league game. A few days Baseball League in 1994.
before that, Rachel Balkovec
won her debut managing the “Playing baseball at the high-
Low-A Tampa Tarpons in the est level is my goal,” Whit-
New York Yankees’ system, more said. “You know, if you
becoming the first woman to ask any other guy that’s going
skipper a team affiliated with to be in the league what his
a major league club. goal is, it’s the same thing, to
get to the next level and play
Whitmore pitched and played at the highest level I could
in the outfield for the U.S. possibly play at.
women’s baseball team from
2014-19 and spent parts of “Eventually, I want to play in
two seasons with the Sonoma affiliated ball. I want to make
Stompers of the independent this game my career, my liv-
Pacific Association. ing, and just, you know, be a
part of it as much as I can.”