By By Matthew Nascone
The Lady Cougars lost what Keri Payne says are the two most important parts of a softball team, the pitcher and the catcher, after the 2006 season. As pitcher Stacey Gibbs and catcher Lori Bonds departed for college, the Lady Cougars were left without an experienced option at either position.
Payne was faced with a young team that had only one returning starter, senior Rachel Ellis at second base. But she turned the team around after a rough start and wound up with a 7-17 record and a 3-3 area record. She coached the team to a win in a one-game playoff to enter the playoffs and accomplished what many thought she could not do.
This coaching ability is what allowed Payne to be named the 2007 Atmore Advance Softball Coach of the Year.