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Quite a bit of information comes across the desk of National College Softball Editor Justin McLeod – that’s me. The Dugout Digest is my column where I share everything from coaching scoops to spotlight articles to recommended reading material.
Throughout the summer, the Digest is where you’ll find scoops on both coaching moves and transfers and much more that is exclusive to Extra Inning Softball.
In today’s edition of the Digest, I’ve got my thoughts on a certain athletic director’s move; we’ll run down some recent moves on the assistant coaching front; and a spotlight on a James Madison player’s tribute to a friend.
As per usual, with comments or questions (for a future mailbag or just in general), you can send me an email: [email protected]. As long as I see your email, you’ll get a reply.
Now, onward.
Alissa Humphrey’s tribute to “LB”
The death of James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett during last season shook the softball world to its core. Bernett’s JMU teammates have paid tribute to their fallen teammate in various ways, and pitcher Alissa Humphrey unveiled last week her own tribute to her friend.
Humphrey’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida has a Survivors of Suicide Memory Garden, described online as “a place of comfort, meditation and healing for those who have lost a loved one through suicide… the purpose of this garden is to provide solace and peace to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide or to those experiencing any type of loss.”
Loved ones can purchase a bench or bricks in the Garden in memory of or in tribute to a loved one; on Saturday, Humphrey tweeted that she was looking into purchasing a bench and brick in honor of Bernett, who she played with for two years in Harrisonburg. She would be purchasing the tribute items either way, but offered information on how to give to the project for anyone who wanted to support with a donation.
The people delivered.
The goal was met within the first hour after Humphrey’s post, she told Extra Inning Softball. In fact, by the end of the Saturday – a bit more than a 13-hour time frame – she had more than tripled the goal. Excess funds raised are going to be donated to charity, including a national organization for suicide prevention, Humphrey said.