The Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023: #6… Club Coach James Lamar Battles Health Trials With Support of Family & Softball Community

We continue our list of the Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023...  the list will run daily through Jan. 1, 2024, when we’ll present the top story of the year. The day after New Year’s Day 2024, we’ll recap the Top 10 one last time, as well as note others that were also considered for the list.

In order to compile this Top 10 list, we considered what were the most impactful and relevant stories of the year and which news headlines or feature story or human interest spotlights pertaining to the world of fastpitch softball caught our attention.

Each day, you can also read in full one of the articles we originally published pertaining to that day’s topic.

Previous Top 10 Softball Stories of 2023

• #10… Addisen Fisher, Why She’s No. 1 in the 2024 Class & A Future UCLA Bruin Star
• #9… Alexia Carrasquillo, Youngest Softball Commit Ever, Preaches “Knows Your Own Worth”
• #8… The Human Experiences (The Painful, Inspirational & Unusual)
• #7… Pro Softball, Post-College Opps For Players Primarily Through Two Professional Leagues

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Top 10 Softball Stories of the Year: #6… Club Coach James Lamar Battles Health Trials With Support of Family & Softball Community

Heading into 2023, James Lamar – an 18U head coach and the lead for the Lady Dukes travel ball organization – seemed to have it all personally and professionally.

His wife Marissa Young is the head softball coach at Duke University and daughters Layla (2024) and Jolyna (2025 grads) are committed to Florida and UCLA, respectively. Coach James’ club organization was flourishing with top-ranked players such as Keagan Rothrock (ranked #1 in the 2023 class and a Florida signee) and was winning on the field, too,

His Lady Dukes travel ball organization had even signed a sizable NIL deal in the Summer of 2022:

The Lady Dukes softball organizational head, James Lamar, signed a five year, potential seven-figure deal Thursday evening with tech company Teamwork out of Austin, Texas.https://t.co/MeK1NaI1Do pic.twitter.com/GAf3OCk6pQ

— ExtraInningSoftball (@ExtraInningSB) August 26, 2022

A fundraiser was established in his behalf which saw $36,495 raised on 252 donations.

The summer was filled with updates on Lamar’s health status (see below) which has to this day continued to be a concern for his loved ones, Lady Dukes’ players, parents and coaches and all of those in the softball world, especially those in the club and college communities, have been keeping James and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

Coach Marissa noted the week before Christmas that her husband has “had weekly surgeries on his feet – 10 to date – and the healing process is going much slower than anyone anticipated.”

I reached out to the Duke head coach earlier today (Wed., Dec. 27) and she texted back that the father of four was in “pre-op right now for this week’s surgery.”

The journey continues has been a scary one for all concerned but, hopefully, Coach James will continue to heal and be back on the ballfields soon… we wish James all the best and a complete recovery in 2024.

— Brentt Eads

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Originally published May 31, 2023

Breaking News: Lady Dukes Club Coach James Lamar on Life Support After Emergency Heart Surgery

Very concerning news in the softball world as James Lamar, the head of the Lady Dukes organization is on life support after undergoing emergency heart surgery last night.

Coach Lamar’s wife, Marissa Young–the Duke University head coach–issued a statement via Twitter this morning emphasizing the seriousness of the situation:

I am trying hard not to ask why or how this would happen to someone who gives & cares so much for others! James had emergency heart surgery last night & is on life support fighting for his life! We know that he is in God’s hands and pray for recovery! @ladydukes16u @DukesNat_14u pic.twitter.com/l0ol26j4yZ

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) May 31, 2023

James and Marissa also have quite the athletic family of four–Braylon, Layla, Jolyna and Kayden–the oldest, Braylon being a football player at the Univ. of Miami and Jolyna and Layla being top-ranked fastpitch players in their respective classes (2024 and 2025, respectively, and both ranked in the Top 5 of the Extra Elite 100).

Coach Lamar told Extra Inning Softball in April that he had been hospitalized with pneumonia but appeared to be recovered and back on the fields.

One source close to the family said within the hour:

“We’re all praying for our brother and his family. Such a great man we need prayers for James and his family. This is bigger than softball as he has become a part of our family the last three years and, right now, him and his family need the softball community to put their hands together in prayer.”

We will keep abreast of the situation and report updates as they become available.

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball

Here are other articles from this year dealing with Coach Lamar’s health issues (listed in sequential order)…

• Updated News: Lady Dukes Club Coach James Lamar to Have Additional Heart Surgery Today (Thursday) (Brentt Eads) June 1
• James Lamar Update: Lady Dukes Leader Undergoing More Heart Surgery Today (Brentt Eads) June 2
• James Lamar Update: GoFundMe Set Up for Hospitalized Lady Dukes Coach (Brentt Eads) June 3
• Heartwarming Gesture: Florida Signee Keagan Rothrock Selling Bracelets to Raise Money for Hospitalized Club Coach James Lamar (Brentt Eads) June 10
• Breaking News: Lady Dukes Head James Lamar Awake & Talking to Family & Team (Brentt Eads) June 15
• James Lamar Update: Lady Dukes Coach Waiting for A Heart & Kidney Transplant (Brentt Eads) July 2
• Twitter Message from Coach James Lamar Plus a Poignant Tribute At The PGF Opening Banquet Friday Night (Brentt Eads) (Brentt Eads) July 22
• Breaking News: Coach James Lamar of Lady Dukes Had Heart Transplant Last Night, Kidney Transplant Today (Brentt Eads) July 27
• Health Update: Lady Dukes Head James Lamar Continues to Recover, “Life After Transplant Unfortunately Hasn’t Gotten Easier” (Brentt Eads) Aug 19

Since August, Coach Young has posted the following tweets regarding her husband’s recovery…

Best Birthday Gift! James is finally back home, doing well & was able to enjoy Kayden’s 1st 🏈 Game!! Thanks for all the love & prayers! pic.twitter.com/ph7DDbKZnv

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) August 30, 2023

Extra Prayers needed today! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/yP4mS5h23t

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) September 20, 2023

Update: A 3rd Hospitalization for James this week! 😢 pic.twitter.com/hgWNDO772S

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) September 28, 2023

Such a great reminder that no matter what you do in life, it’s a people business so go above and beyond to touch the lives of others! pic.twitter.com/cbATLvn3s0

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) October 18, 2023

James endured his 12th surgery yesterday & learned another is needed next week. Lord we are thankful for your provisions & protection, we ask that your continue to guide his medical team and heal his body in a miraculous way! pic.twitter.com/2STGYi48Tg

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) October 29, 2023

James conquered his 15th surgical procedure yesterday! He is a resilient fighter. It went the best it could, rest up, heal up till next week. Continue to pray for protection, healing, strength & a full recovery according to God’s perfect timing! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/khHF0kwF5f

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) November 14, 2023

James Update: His fight continues! pic.twitter.com/zjp0Ea8gcX

— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) December 18, 2023

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