26, 2022 at 7:31 AM PDT | Updated: Apr. HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) James Madison has canceled the remainder of its softball season as the school tries to cope with the suicide of one of its star players last week. It was tough., Down to Business: Helping children learn to communicate empowers whole family, speech-language pathologist says, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Bernett, 20, played a James Madison University is canceling the rest of its softball season in the wake of the death of star player Lauren Bernett. She was a key member of our 2021 Womens College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. ", First published on April 27, 2022 / 5:56 PM. WebJMU President Jonathan Alger and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne announced the death of the 20-year-old sophomore catcher from Pennsylvania in a news release. The series with the Blue Hens, as well as one with Elon, have been declared no contests, with no bearing on the conference standings. Her huge heart showed grade and kindness to everyone she ever met. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program.. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program.. Head softball coach Loren LaPorte said in a statement today, This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly. We will use this time to continue healing and to honor Laurens memory while finishing the academic semester strong.. . Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources. 1-ranked Oklahoma in their opening game. The university is offering grief counseling and other mental health resources for the student body. To say she will be missed is an overwhelming understatement. Bernett was a star player at South Fayette High School. Our thoughts are with her family; her coaches, teammates and friends; the rest of our department staff and student-athletes; and the entire JMU community. This weekends home series against Delaware has been canceled. (Colin E. Braley/AP). death of sophomore player Lauren Bernett. Bernett, 20, from McDonald, in western Pa., died by suicide on Monday, April 25. She was 20. One month has passed since Bernett, a sophomore catcher on the JMU softball team, died by suicide at 20. Guns N' Roses, Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson and Wizkid are on sale now. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. She died a day after being named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week. The announcement of Bernett's death came a day after she was named the CAA player of the week for batting .778 with seven RBIs and four runs in a three-game weekend sweep of Drexel that pulled JMU within a game of league-leading Delaware. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes, university president Jonathan Alger and athletic director Jeff Bourne said in a statement. The James Madison University softball team has canceled the remainder of its season following the death of sophomore player Lauren Bernett. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. The second-year student was 20-years-old. Access all of our expanded, online-only, subscriber exclusive opinion writing. Here's why. All rights reserved. Bernetts death came roughly a month after Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer died by suicide months before graduation. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. As a freshman, she was one of the heroes of the underdog JMU team that advanced to the Womens College World Series semifinal. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Like after any student-athletes death, Kym said, she HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) James Madison has canceled the remainder of its softball season as the school tries to cope with the suicide of one of its star players last week. For additional support in the JMU area, please reach out to: For information on programs, events, presentations and support groups the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers, clickhere. On Monday, Bernett was named the softball Player of the Week in the Colonial Athletic Conference after batting .788 (7-for-9) with seven RBIs and four runs during a three-game weekend sweep of Drexel. They made headlines there with a 4-3 win against No. (Colin E. Braley/AP). News of Bernetts passing came in the wake of notable deaths of two other NCAA athletes, Wisconsin distance runner Sarah Shulze and Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. The cancellations include a May 3 game against Virginia and a three-game league series May 6-7 against Elon. We are so grateful for the support of our fans all season and for the love from the softball community during the past week. Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly, JMU coach Loren LaPorte said in a news release. The series with the Blue Hens, as well as one with Elon, have been declared no contests, with no bearing on the conference standings. The Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia ruled the death a suicide. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. You really never know what someone is going through, a former teammate tweeted. We are a tight family. We will make sure that they are honored for the commitment and dedication they have made as student-athletes.. Lauren Bernett, a sophomore catcher and cleanup hitter for the Dukes, died April 25 following a stellar weekend series against Drexel, for which she was named the Colonial Athletic Association's player of the week. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program.. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Courtesy of JMU Athletics On Tuesday, Humphrey was the last softball player on the team to leave the flower drop; her cries could be heard across the otherwise hushed VMP. Lauren Bernett, a star catcher for Americas James Madison University (JMU) softball team, has died, the school announced on Tuesday. 26, 2022 at 5:09 PM PDT. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Visitation is scheduled 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. The Dukes finish their 2022 season 21-21 overall with a 10-5 record in CAA play. All rights reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Colonial Athletic Association said Wednesday that a weekend series in Harrisonburg between JMU and Delaware would not be played and instead would be declared a no-contest that would not affect the conference standings. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. Wake up to the day's most important news. However, we want others to know the impact Lauren had on each our lives, and each member of not only our softball family, but the entire JMU community. We are a tight family. JMU mourns the loss of softballs Lauren Bernett, JMU softball star Lauren Bernett unexpectedly passes away, Campus Crisis line after hours: 540-568-6552, Sentara RMH Emergency Department: 540-689-1414, Dog found dead under suspicious circumstances, SCSO says, ACSO looking for suspicious man in the Weyers Cave area, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Impacts the end of the COVID public health emergency will have, FDA advisers give green light for RSV vaccine approval; why this is important for older adults, Eastern Mennonite boys basketball defeats Walsingham 69-56, advances to VISAA DIII semifinals, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week, Counseling Centers Additional 24/7 Emergency Information. The following message was sent out to the JMU community and posted on social media Tuesday morning: Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett died by suicide, the Western Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said Thursday. Authorities with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office announced that Bernett's We will use this time to continue healing and to honor Laurens memory while finishing the academic semester strong., LaPorte said the school recognizes the decision brings an abrupt end to the careers of seniors on the team, and we will make sure that they are honored for the commitment and dedication they have made as student-athletes.. WebDeath of JMU softball player ruled a suicide Back to video The school, located in Harrisonburg, Va., announced the passing of sophomore catcher Lauren Bernett on All Rights Reserved. College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program," Alger and Bourne said in the joint statement. We are so grateful for the support of our fans all season and for the love from the softball community during the past week. The school did not provide a cause of death. All rights reserved (About Us). By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Please try again. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The team had previously already canceled five games. The Rockingham County Sheriffs office in Virginia has said the death is an apparent suicide. The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. This was an extremely difficult decision and one that was not made lightly, JMU coach Loren LaPorte said in a news release of the cancellation. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. WebHARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) James Madison has canceled the remainder of its softball season as the school tries to cope with the suicide of one of its star players last week. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Lauren Bernett was a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. The cancellations include a May 3 game against Virginia and a three-game league series May 6-7 against Elon. In tribute to Bernett, teams including Liberty and Tennessee have worn purple ribbons in their hair during games. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call theSuicide Prevention Lineat 1-800-273-TALK. call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK. James Madison catcher Lauren Bernett during a NCAA softball game on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Columbia, Mo. 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