By Gary Lloyd
The Jefferson County Board of Education has approved Clay-Chalkville High School’s newest varsity softball coach.
Kari Pate was approved Thursday morning.
Pate was a pitcher at Oak Mountain High School from 1999-2003. Pate played for the 2001 Oak Mountain High School softball team that won the Class 5A state championship. During the 2001 season, Pate pitched 12 shutouts. Pate then played at Wallace State Community College for two years, and in 2005 her team won a state championship.
Clay-Chalkville Cougars
file photo
Pate has been an assistant coach at Sparkman Middle School.
“I want a hard-working team that’s going to be good role models,” Pate said.
Pate, who will teach biology and physical science, said she believes her players should be students before they’re athletes.
“I just want a good, classy program,” Pate said.
Pate said her goal at Clay-Chalkville is to not just win, but to work hard to win. It’s the way she was coached, she said.
“I just believe in working hard and outworking other teams,” she said.
Paige Jones resigned in June after one season as the Clay-Chalkville coach, leaving to take the same position at Hueytown. Hueytown was one of the top 10 teams in Class 6A last season.
Clay-Chalkville last season reached the Class 6A state playoffs, losing both games of its North Regional qualifier to Albertville and Florence. The team compiled an 11-32 record, according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The Lady Cougars finished in second in the Class 6A, Area 13 tournament, which Oxford won.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
