For the last couple of years, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans have been able to confidently rely on third baseman, Lindsey Black.
Black has always been a great teammate, a great hitter and a sure-handed defensive player. This season, which sees the Spartans sitting at 14-2 and ranked 6th in Class AAA, she leads the team in hitting (.521), hits (25) and triples (2). She is second in RBIs with 13 and doubles with six. She has always been a clutch player that can come up with the big hit for her team. Throw in her .1000 fielding percentage, and Black is as good as they come.
The senior just does not hit by chance, however. She must stick to her same routine, or she feels nothing will go as planned, and she must have positive thoughts while in the batter’s box.
“I approach the plate with a positive mindset. Instead of thinking of what the negative outcome can be, I always think of what I can do to help the team out. I am a very superstitious person. It starts at the beginning of my day, but the most important part of my routine is the batting practice and my plate approach. Another superstition aspect is my sunglasses. I always have to have them on,” Black said.
Black’s passion for softball is a key factor to her success as well, and just being part of the Spartan program every year has made her thankful and appreciative for that opportunity.
“Being a part of the East softball program is a privilege and an honor. It is like having a second family that I get to play the sport I love with,” Black said thankfully.
Being one of just three seniors on the entire roster, Black naturally has to lead her teammates, whether vocally or by example. She is such a positive influence that team chemistry is as good as it has ever been for the Spartans.
“I think we definitely can go all the way this year. We have a pretty solid team and the one thing we have this year is the team chemistry. If we keep ensuring that teamwork is important and putting in the work to better ourselves, we have a good chance,” she stated of state tournament hopes.
To reach those heights, however, will take support from within the team and coaching staff, and to an extent, the players’ families. Black is good on all three of those.
“Without my family I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I had. They are always there cheering me on no matter what. My dad especially because he is harder on me than anyone, but he pushes me to be the best version I can be. He sets his standards high, but it has made me a better player,” Black said.
“My coaches have taught me in softball and for the future to always stay dedicated and work hard for what I want, and I can achieve my goals,” she added.
With just about a month remaining in her career, graduation is just around the corner and coming quickly, but Black has her future mapped out already.
“After graduating I plan to attend WVU and major in nursing,” she stated.
