MONTICELLO – Courtney Shivers is familiar with the strongsoftball tradition at Lawrence County High School. She wants theLady Cougars to maintain that high level of success under her newleadership.

Shivers, 28, has been hired to coach slowpitch and fastpitch atLCHS. She replaces Jill Haney as slowpitch boss and BeronicaStringfellow in fastpitch.

“Lawrence County has had some good seasons and made the stateplayoffs several times,” said Shivers. “I know what these girls arecapable of achieving.”

She plans to conduct slowpitch tryouts July 16-17, from 3-5 p.m.The Lady Cougars begin preseason practice July 21. Their first gameis Aug. 5, at Petal.

Last season, under Haney’s direction, the Lady Cougars captured theDivision 6-4A crown and advanced to the championship finals of thestate playoffs. Haney has taken a coaching position at Dixie MiddleSchool, just south of Hattiesburg.

“I’m looking forward to a good season,” said Shivers. “I’m anxiousto get to know the girls. They have a good summer program here andthat gives them more experience.”

Shivers is a 1998 graduate of Tylertown High School. She attendedCopiah-Lincoln Community College on a tennis scholarship. Shegraduated in 2003 from Southern Miss with a major in physicaleducation and general science.

She began coaching at Our Lady of Victory in Bay St. Louis. Shetaught science and physical education, plus coaching basketball andfastpitch.

Her OLA fastpitch team made the Class 3A state playoffs, winningSouth State and advancing to the finals where they lost toCaledonia.

In 2005, Shivers returned to Southern Miss on a full academicscholarship and obtained a Master’s degree in P.E.

Her next coaching stop was at Class 5A Ocean Springs where shecoached two years. Her 2008 Lady Greyhounds won the divisionchampionship, defeating longtime powerhouse George Countytwice.

LCHS athletic director and head football coach Mike Davis said hewas happy to have Shivers in his athletic department. “We aretickled to have Coach Shivers coaching softball at Lawrence County.She has been successful at two schools already.

“We look forward to working with her,” he added. “We want thesuccessful softball tradition to continue here.”

She will teach physical education in grades K-4 at the elementaryschool in Monticello.

Shivers said her grandparents, Charles and Wilma Cole, areBrookhaven residents. Her father, David Shivers, is from Magee andher mother, Mary Cole, is from Brookhaven.

Stringfellow elected to step down from coaching and concentrate onraising her infant son after winning three district fastpitchtitles. She will continue teaching biology at LCHS.