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After RTS reported last month she had been targeted by San Jose State as a top candidate; Tammy Lohmann has now been named head coach of the Spartans. Lohmann spent 13 seasons on staff at Cal, and what would be her final season in 2020 leading the program as interim head coach.

Texas-San Antonio has announced the hiring of Ronnie Ladines as an assistant coach. Ladines served the 2020 season as an assistant at Utah Valley. She also spent time on staff at Akron. A standout pitcher at Kent State, she posted 20 wins and a 1.82 ERA in her senior season of 2017.

Her family and friends describe Sophia Duong as happy, energetic, good hearted, strong-willed, a fighter, and even a little bit “sassy”. All those character attributes stand to serve Sophia Duong well as she faces down the most challenging time in her young life.  

Earlier this summer Sophia, a sophomore Pitcher/Utility from Eastvale, California, received a diagnosis of muscle spasms in her shoulder. With an MRI and CT Scan after suffering from further symptoms in her leg, the tests determined Sophia was suffering from a glial tumor on her spinal column. A stroke since affecting her spine has gradually caused her to lose feeling from her torso to her toes. 

Sophia is currently at Loma Linda Pediatrics Hospital where she is receiving radiation treatments with a proton beam and has 13-15 treatments left. Surgery is not an option as the tumor is intertwined in her spinal cord column. The immediate expenses projected to get Sophia home are overwhelming for her and her family. Sophia will have needs that will not be covered by insurance. She continues to be strong, in good spirits, a fighter and is ready and willing to conquer all that is in her path on her road to recovery according to her family. A GoFundMe account has been established to help Sophia’s Family with these overwhelming expenses. https://gf.me/u/yvmzbp

Sophia started playing softball with Eastvale Girls Softball Association when she was only 8 years old. She has developed her talents, and is now a member of the California Cruisers-Villalobos elite club team. Sophia enjoys spending time with her friends and family, making tik tok videos, snap chat, watching Netflix, and going to the movies. “Sophia has the passion and goal to keep playing in high school, club ball, and move on to College once she graduates.” her mother Angela Duong told RTS. “Her love and passion for the game goes without saying.”

“Sassy” softball players are sometime known to give opponents (and coaches haha) a bit of a challenge and run for their money. Let’s hope Sophia lays a bit of that sass on what is in front of her. If so, I don’t believe it stands a chance in this fight against her.   

RTS wishes Sophia, her family, her teammates and coaches, and all her loved ones our continuing prayers and well wishes.

Emmanuel College (GA) has named Kevin Fagan head coach. Fagan spent the last seven seasons building a JUCO powerhouse at the College of Central Florida. He amassed a 355-68 record, four conference championships, and an NJCAA National Runner-Up finish in 2019.

Lipscomb has announced that former Bison Laura Dukes has rejoined the program as an assistant coach. Dukes returns to her alma mater after one season down the boulevard at Belmont. She also had stops on staffs at Shepherd and Austin Peay.

Miami (OH) has hired Kirin Kumar as their next head coach. Kumar had last served on the coaching staff at Virginia Tech before departing the staff after the 2020 season. This will be the first head coaching position for the journeyman assistant coach. Kumar’s coaching stops have include: North Carolina State, Tulsa (twice), Tennessee Tech, and Western Kentucky before spending the last two seasons with the Hokies.

Manchester University has announced that Associate Head Coach Sarah Emerich will take over as head coach. Emerich has spent five years on staff split across two separate stints. Former Head Coach Josh Dzurick will remain with the program as an assistant.

Pensacola State has announced former team member Courtney Heinritz has returned to the program to join their coaching staff. Heinritz competed at Toledo after two years playing with the Pirates. She spent the 2020 season as a graduate manager at Memphis.

Florida has announced that four-time program All-American Amanda Lorenz will fill the volunteer assistant coach position in the 2021 season. Lorenz, also a member of the USSSA Pride pro team, will work on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for the Gators.

In a move that was seemingly about pandemic dollars and cents and lack thereof; San Diego has promoted assistant coach MJ Knighten to head coach. The 25 year old Knighten has one year of collegiate coaching experience to her credit before this promotion, and now becomes the youngest head coach in Division I. The search for a new head coach that lasted the last three months engaged many candidates, none of which seem to be able to move past what USD Administration was willing to pay based on what the market called for. The position compensation offered to most candidates that were spoken with ranged between 70-80K a year, which most agreed is well below the cost of living expense in the greater San Diego area. The former Nebraska All-American and California Native, Knighten also competed professionally in National Pro Fastpitch before joining the staff at Wichita State as a Graduate Manager for the 2018 season.