CHERRY TWP — Moniteau’s powerhouse softball program has a new leader.

Lennie Claypoole, 43, was approved as varsity head coach at a school board meeting Monday night. The position became available when Dan Beebe resigned in July after not being approved by the board to return next season. Beebe guided the Warriors to a 109-20 record in six seasons, including a trip to the PIAA Class AA championship game last spring.

The Warriors will return all but two starters from that team in 2017.

“It’s a great program and hopefully, we can match what has been done in the past,” Claypoole said. “That will be a tall task, but we’re going to give it our best shot.”

Claypoole was one of three finalists for the position.

“Between local and travel ball, he has a pretty impressive background in softball,” said Moniteau athletic director John Stoughton. “That was favorable for him. We have a very talented team coming back and wanted to bring in someone who knows the game.”

Claypoole, a 1992 Moniteau graduate, resides in Marion Township and coached U-10 to U-18 teams in the recreational league there for 10 years. He also has served as an assistant with the Silver Creek Stars, a travel team based in Bessemer, Beaver County. He previously traveled to Europe with Queen of Diamonds, a showcase team.

“I’ve been involved with softball for a lot of years,” he said. “All of the players for Moniteau are familiar with me.”

One of those players is Claypoole’s daughter, Cortney, who will be a senior shortstop next spring. Another daughter, Cassidy, is a freshman in the program.

Lennie Claypoole would like to address one area of the program in particular over the next couple of months.

“The older girls know what it takes to win. They all play a lot of softball and they play it together, including fall ball,” he said. “I would like to get the younger girls together and see if we can get something going in the fall before the weather turns.”