Blue Devil softball continues winning ways through tears

The Unicoi County softball team hasn't lost often on the field this season, but heartbreaking losses have occurred outside the lines. On Monday, April 6, Sandy Lingerfelt, the wife of former Unicoi County softball coach Grady Lingerfelt, died unexpectedly. Her granddaughter is Carly Baxter, a talented sophomore for the Blue Devils. Lingerfelt, a kind soul who would often talk to a reporter 5-10 minutes before handing the phone to her husband for his interview, was the third Unicoi County player's grandparent to die recently. "Our team is a family, and this week it was evident," Unicoi County coach Abby Hensley said. "Our girls have experienced so much this season from passing away to injuries. Three of our players have experienced deaths this season – Aaliyah Engle's papaw, Kyndal Engle's great grandmother and Carly Baxter's grandmother." Baxter responded in resounding fashion last week. On Tuesday she was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in a 15-0 defeat of Happy Valley. She was just getting warmed up. Baxter went 4-for-4 with four runs, two RBIs, two doubles and a stolen base in a 14-0 win at South Greene on Thursday. She again went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs with a stolen base and a triple in a 15-6 defeat of Cloudland on Friday. "Carly Baxter had a week of games," Hensley said. "I cannot say enough about how much grit she showed this week. Look at her stats; they show what kind of week she had. "Sandy was a light to our community. She gave so much to not only her family, but to Carly's and Coach Grady's sport families. She was there as one of our number one supporters." Lingerfelt could bake as well as Baxter can play ball, and she was generous with her passion, often offering to bake for virtual strangers. Of course, she never met a stranger. "The last game of the week, Saturday against Unaka, we wore ribbons in the color of cinnamon rolls for Sandy," Hensley said. "Anyone who knew Sandy knew how amazing of a cook she was, especially her cinnamon rolls." Kyndal Engle, a Milligan University signee, has put together a season that's also inspired Hensley. "Kyndal has shown so much growth from her sophomore year, my first year coaching, to this year," Hensley said. "When I speak on growth, I'm speaking from how she mentally has grown into the athlete she is, to her ability as a player. If you speak with Kyndal, my first year to last year, her biggest things I spoke to her about was mental toughness, not getting down and just to have fun. "This year, she's there. She's smiling on the field. You can see the glow an athlete should have. She bounces back, and has developed into a leader. The game against Cloudland, her defensive was top notch." East Tennessee State signee Lela Byrd continues to compile a season for the ages. Byrd struck out 13 while pitching a no-hitter in a win against North Greene on Monday. She also went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Byrd struck out four in two shutout innings in the win against Happy Valley. She also went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a double against the Warriors. Byrd again pitched a no-hitter on Thursday, striking out 12 in a five-inning victory at South Greene. At the plate, she was 2-for-3 with two walks. Byrd struck out 14 in a five-inning one-hitter during a 12-0 defeat of Unaka on Saturday. She helped her cause by going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, a home run, a double and a steal. Other notable performances against North Greene: Kyndal Engle (2-for-3, home run, three RBIS), Aaliyah Engle (2-for-4, two runs) and Emmi Linkous (2-for-2, two RBIs, double, walk). Highlights against Happy Valley included: Kaley Toney (2-for-3, four RBIs, double), Kianna Woodward (2-for-3, home run, three RBIs, walk), Aaliyah Engle (2-for-3, two runs, two doubles, two RBIs) and Abigail Peterson (2-for-3, two RBIs). Among the standouts in the win against South Greene: Woodward (2-for-2, RBI, three walks, double, triple), Brooklynn Sparks (2-for-4, four RBIs, double), Aaliyah Engle (3-for-5, three RBIs), Peterson (3-for-3, four runs, three RBIs, home run, double, walk). Toney pitched a complete game against Cloudland. Aaliyah Engle was 4-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, two doubles and a walk. Peterson was 2-for-3 with three runs, a triple and two RBIs. Kyndal Engle went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Woodward scored four times against Unaka. She was 1-for-2 with a home run, two steals, two RBIs and a walk. Linkous was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Unicoi County will open this week on Monday against Knox Gibbs. "This coming week is going to be a challenging week to say the least," Hensley said. "Monday we play Knox Gibbs at Walters State Community College, Tuesday we play at West Greene and Wednesday we play at West Ridge." A game against Clinton is also in the works for Thursday at Carson-Newman.