By WAYNE PHILLIPS

Sports Editor

Long-time Chuckey-Doak High School baseball coach Tim Lady has resigned his position as coach of the Black Knights.

Lady, who has coached for the past 20 seasons, has chalked up 328 victories with the Black Knights, but said it was time to step aside.

"I just think it's time for somebody younger to step in and take over," Lady said. "I've enjoyed it, and we've had some really good kids go through the program over the years. But I don't have the fire for the job that I once had, and once you lose that enthusiasm, it's time to let somebody else do it."

He noted that the years at Chuckey-Doak have provided many fond memories, but none sweeter than in 1991 when his Black Knights stopped a Unicoi County winning streak that was approaching 100 straight games.

"That's one of the best memories," he said. "But I remember the kids that have been involved in baseball at Chuckey-Doak and I've watched them grow up. That's the best thing."

Eight Black Knights have earned All-State honors and many former players have gone on to collegiate careers. At least two former Knights, Josh Kite and Jason Southerland, have played in the professional ranks.

Lady's coaching record is 358-214. He led the Knights to three Watauga Conference championships, one Twin Lakes Conference crown and eight 20-win seasons. He was Coach of the Year in the Watauga three times and Upper East Tennessee Coach of the Year once.

Chuckey-Doak Principal George Frye said the devotion that Lady has shown to the school over the years is something "that's hard to find nowadays."

"Tim Lady knows baseball," Frye said. "He has spent many, many hours working with the kids in the program, not to mention the countless hours he spent working on the ball field and the grounds around the field. For 20 years he has been a familiar name when you talk about baseball around here, and he'll certainly be missed."

The baseball field at Chuckey-Doak has always been a source of pride for Lady.

"When I became coach we had a dirt infield and chicken wire for a backstop," Lady recalls. "We took the backstop from Newmansville's field and put it up at Chuckey-Doak, and it's still there."

The dirt infield was replaced with grass, dugouts have been constructed as well as a storage building. Lights were also added.

"Just about all the improvements were made without any help from taxpayers," Lady said. "We had a good, active booster club, and I've been fortunate to have some awfully good parents who have helped build our program."

Frye said a new baseball coach for the Knights would be announced as soon as possible.