RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
When we came out with the Extra Elite Eighty 18U Club Rankings earlier this month and had James Lamar’s Lady Dukes team at #21 overall, we had several in the club world saying they could end up being a top 15, even top 10, team by the end of the year.
Think what those people are saying now, since the the travel ball team out of North Carolina went public with the pick-up of three additions—all of whom are Top 5-rated Extra Elite 100 standouts.
Over the weekend, the Lady Dukes announced the roster additions of pitcher Keagan Rothrock (ranked #1 overall in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, Florida commit), catcher Lillian Vallimont (#5 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, Northwestern verbal) and outfielder Jolie Adams (#3 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, uncommitted).
Not only that, the Lady Dukes team will also see Keagan’s mother, noted pitching coach Laura Rothrock, take over the pitcher and catcher duties as Lamar will focus on coaching the outfield and assistant coach Tony Vega will work with the infielders.
All three players competed for the national championship-winning Mojo – Fisher team that will technically be 16U this summer but will play mostly 18U tournaments prior to nationals.
Sources close to the Tennessee-based organization say they were surprised the trio left, but still look to be strong with a roster that includes five SEC commits and two to the ACC. One Mojo coach said, “We expect to be adding some top players over the next few days.”
The Lady Dukes team went 32-6-2 in the fall playing a competitive national schedule including capturing the title at the Hotshots invitational and added a 5-0-1 finish at the PGF Arizona Winter Invitational and a 4-1 mark at the Bolts 5 Star Exposure Showcase.
The Lady Dukes have an invite to PGF 18U Premier Nationals to finish off this summer and also plan on attending the Top Gun Invite, Top Club National, Atlanta Legacy and Boulder IDT before prior to PGF.
The Lady Dukes returners include Duke-commit Breezy Burnett (2022, OF), Jaylah Jarrel (2023, MIF), Olivia Duncan (2023, P), Boston College-commit Gabby Aughton (2022, P), Purdue-commit Rita Nuss (2022, 3B/1B), Duke-bound Jada Baker (2021, MIF), Duke-bound Ana Gold (2021, MIF), Purdue-bound Tyrina Jones (2021, P/UT), Duke-commit Cassidy Curd (2022, P), Duke-commit Kairi Rodriguez (2022, C), Purdue-commit Emma Bailey (2022, P), Central Florida-commit Aminah Vegas (2022, MIF), Purdue-commit Khloe Banks (2022, OF) and Florida-commit Layla Lamar (2024, 3B/1B).
In addition to the newest trio, the Lady Dukes previously added Jalia Lassiter (2022, UT), Duke-bound Mariah Headen (2021, P/UT), Florida-commit Alexia Carasquillo (2024, C) and Duke-commit Kyye Ricks (2022, OF).
Even prior to the addition of Rothrock, Lamar was high on the Lady Dukes group in the circle.
“I love this pitching staff, they are very competitive and have no fear,” he said
Lamar told Extra Inning Softball today that he has known the Rothrock family for a long time and even sent some of his pitchers to work out with Laura Rothrock, who lives and is based in Indiana.
*** Scroll down for more info on the key additions of the newest trio of Lady Dukes!