LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- James Madison softball coaching staff, led by Head Coach Loren LaPorte, was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division Staff of the Year, the association announced on Thursday afternoon.Laporte, Associate Head Coach Jennifer Herzig and Assistant Coach Libby Morris are the first JMU softball coaching staff to take home the NFCA honor. The staff has earned Northeast Region Staff of the Year five times. The staff guided JMU on their historic 2021 season finishing at the program's first ever Women's College World Series with a record 41-4 and ranked No. 4 in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll. Along with the program's first appearance, the Dukes were the first three-seeded team to make the WCWS since 2014.The Dukes claimed their Colonial Athletics Association South Division Regular Season title as well as their sixth CAA Championship to move on to the Knoxville Regional.At the NCAA Knoxville Regional, JMU went 3-0, defeating then-No. 9 Tennessee and No. 25 Liberty twice, to claim a spot in the Columbia Super Regional, the program's third ever Super Regional appearance. The Dukes continued their momentum winning the first and third games of the Super Regional to punch their ticket to the WCWS. The historic ride continued as JMU became the first non-seeded team to win the its first two games of the series. During the postseason, the Dukes defeated four teams in the top-10, two of which at the opposing team's home stadium, as well as claiming two victories over #25 Liberty.JMU closed the 2021 campaign ranking seventh in the nation for home runs per game (1.58), sixth in slugging percentage (.562), second in win loss percentage (.911) and ninth in ERA. (1.79).

With a 5-1 win over Florida State in Wednesday afternoon’s winner-take-all game three of the 2021 NCAA Softball Women’s College World Series, the Oklahoma Sooners captured their third Nationa Championship in five years. The national title is OU coach Patty Gasso’s fifth while in Norman.

We now know the final eight teams headed to the 2021 Women’s College World Series. The 64-team field has been taken down to those worthy of a trip to Oklahoma City next weekend, now that this past weekend’s Super Regionals have come to a conclusion.

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- #22 James Madison is crowned the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association champions after winning in recording setting fashion over fourth-seeded Delaware, 17-0, on Friday afternoon, at Veterans Memorial Park.

Here's how to watch the 2021 CAA Softball Championships on FloSoftball.

James Madison University head softball coach Loren LaPorte is becoming accustomed to change. The past year has certainly had its fair share. Since last March, LaPorte has experienced a shutdown 19 games into the season, having a baby, a reduced schedule this season, and two games already canceled due to COVID-19.