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James Lamar, the successful travel ball club leader and head coach for the Lady Dukes, remains hospitalized after undergoing heart surgery on Tuesday.
According to a Twitter post by his wife, Marissa Young, it was decided that he will need further surgery today (Thur., June 1).
Here’s what she posted:
Update: James remained stable yesterday & is ready for another heart surgery this afternoon. Thx 4 the outpouring of prayers & support! We will fight! pic.twitter.com/gM82A8zxsE
— Marissa Young (@DukeCoachYoung) June 1, 2023
The support from the softball public has been phenomenal with fellow coaches and players praying and rooting for the father of four.
One of those was from 2023 grad Keagan Rothrock, a Florida signee, who has played for Coach Lamar and the Lady Dukes. On her Twitter account yesterday, she wrote:
Praying for one of the most selfless and inspiring coaches who gives everything he has to his players. Pull through Coach James, we’re all rooting for you🤍 pic.twitter.com/EtW9ROXwSb
— Keagan Rothrock (@_kea01) May 31, 2023
Another example of support for the club coach from the college world is from Univ. of Texas Associate Head Coach Steve Singleton who posted on his Twitter account:
Please send out prayers, good vibes and positive thoughts for my guy James Lamar. This is a great family and a great man and we all need him to pull through. https://t.co/tr9988wy5h
— Steve Singleton (@CoachSingTexas) May 31, 2023
Extra Inning Softball will continue to provide updates on Coach Lamar as his health journey continues…
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Below is the originally story published Wednesday morning on Extra Inning Softball
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 (Tuesday, May 30).
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 Kyden 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