Warren Central softball coach Dana McGivney finally got the breakthrough she was looking for in 2009.

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Despite having only three seniors — Shelbi Conerly, Mandy Fuller and Andi Hearn — and a cast of underclassmen playing big roles, she guided the Lady Vikes to a 14-8 record on the diamond this season.

For her efforts, McGivney is the 2009 Vicksburg Post Fastpitch Coach of the Year.

The key for McGivney is her rapport with her players. She can be joking with her charges one minute, then get tough and lay down the law the next.

Her club split the regular season series with archrival Clinton and then won a coin toss for the Division 4-5A championship with the two clubs knotted in the standings at season’s end.

“It’s always nice to beat Clinton and it’s good to be district champs,” McGivney said. “That’s one of your first goals, to have a winning season and win district. To do that was very nice.”

Warren Central hosted its first playoff regional in McGivney’s tenure, but fell to Southaven and Madison Central in a pair of games at Lucy Young Field.

The third-year coach is very quick to deflect the credit to her players and their improved chemistry.

 “I think they really enjoyed playing together,” McGivney said. “They had a good time, they all like each other, most days, and they worked hard at practice. They wanted to win. They wanted to work hard at practice every day and improve. I saw such a tremendous improvement from January to the end of April. It was just unbelievable.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com