BOGUE CHITTO- Adriane Albritton made the best of her two yearscoaching the Bogue Chitto girls fastpitch softball team. Shedirected the division champion Lady Bobcats to the Class 1A SouthState finals this season, losing to Clarkdale in a best-of-threeseries.

For her accomplishments, Albritton has been selected The DAILYLEADER’s Coach of the Year on the 2003 All-Area Fastpitch SoftballTeam. For Albritton, this was the last year for her to coach atBogue Chitto because she will be entering dental school at theUniversity of Mississippi in Jackson.

“Our girls were solid and dependable at every position,” saidAlbritton. “Very few of them ever complained about practicing toomuch. They wanted to practice and get better.”

Albritton, 25, had a quality mix of seniors and underclassmen inthe starting lineup. She usually started seniors Karen Wallace atfirst base, Jessica Melton at shortstop, Randi Moak at catcher andAmanda Wallace in center field. Also in the lineup were pitcherMeleah Brown, second baseman Marley Porter, third baseman BrynnaWallace, leftfielder Candace Braxton and rightfielder KiaPorter.

“We never had to DH (designated hitter),” said Albritton. “Wehad a very athletic team that was determined to win.”

Albritton graduated from Oak Grove, a longtime bastion ofbaseball powerhouses. Slowpitch softball was introduced her senioryear and she played summer league softball.

She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with aB.S. in biology. Her plans for dental school were put on hold soshe began a teaching/coaching career at Bogue Chitto, teachingbiology and chemistry.

When an opening arrived to coach fastpitch at Bogue Chitto, shehad some misgivings. “I had a background in baseball because mybrother (Chris Medenwald) and my husband (Jeremy) played baseball.”Jeremy, a Bogue Chitto native, was a catcher/outfielder for USM’sGolden Eagles.

“My husband was a lot of help,” said Albritton. “There werequite a few people I’d have to give credit to for helping me adjustto fastpitch.

“Pitching was totally new to me,” she added. “I was unfamiliarwith the legalities of pitching. It can be complicated.”

To her good fortune, Albritton had a veteran behind the plate incatcher Randi Moak. “Randi called the pitches for us. She andMeleah have an outstanding relationship. Randi had the maturity totake charge of a game.”

Albritton complimented her assistant coach, Amy Burt, with beinga big help to the team. She also thanked Darlene Miller, the team’sdedicated volunteer statistician.

“I have a lot of new-found respect for coaches and teachers,”said Albritton. “My time at Bogue Chitto was well spent.

“I’m excited about dental school,” she continued. “It’ssomething I’ve had a passion for. My mom is a nurse.”

Albritton and her husband have a 2-year-old son, Dawson.