By Sam McClanahan
A familiar face to the Pendleton County Ladycats Fastpitch Softball program will now be leading the team going into the 2026 season.
Lifelong Pendleton County native, PCHS alum, and local business owner, James Anderson; shown above with former Ladycat star pitcher Kayley Bruener, has served as an assistant with the program since 2019 and was officially named last week as the new head coach. Anderson replaces Jessica Verst, who had served as head coach since June of 2021.
Anderson has a long coaching history in the sport as he has been involved with both recreation and travel ball programs since 2014. He played a big role in helping start up the Pendleton County "Dirt Divas" squad which produced talented future Ladycats who would go onto play for the memorable regional championship teams in 2019 and 2021.
"I would like to thank the administration of PCHS for the opportunity to coach Pendleton County Ladycats Softball, I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity," Anderson said. "I can't wait to get started with Fall workouts this week. And most importantly, I would like to thank my family for the for their support. Without them making sacrifices I couldn't do it. The hardest job in coaching is to be the wife of a coach and I would like to thank my wife, Brooklyn, for her support and putting up with me coming home later than I am supposed to all the time."
Anderson and his wife reside in Pendleton County and they have two daughters, Reagan and Rylan.