CHASING HISTORY

The modest, kids-first approach has paved the way for a very successful tenure for one of the community’s biggest role models – on and off the diamond.
Unicoi County High School baseball coach Charlie Baxter is one win away from reaching the 1,000-win plateau as a baseball and softball coach at UCHS.
Baxter’s current record stands at 999-310 with combined wins and losses coming from baseball and softball stints at UCHS.
The Blue Devils will have a chance to get Baxter his 1,000th career victory this week. The team will travel to Happy Valley on Tuesday, April 9, for a game at 5 p.m. They will travel to Johnson County on Thursday, April 11, for a game at 5 p.m. The Blue Devils will be on the road again at Loudon County on Saturday. This game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
Baxter – a 2006 inductee into the TSSAA Hall of Fame – is currently in his 32nd year as a head coach on the diamond, including five years as the UCHS Lady Devil softball head coach.
Baxter is joined on the varsity coaching staff by his son, Andy, and Keith Greer. Baxter’s wife, Phyllis, aids with the stats. Baxter has recorded five state titles overall with five runner-up appearances – with the possibility of more to come.
Some of the best memories throughout the skipper’s illustrious head coaching career came from former players and members of the media.
Steve Treadway – a 1987 graduate of UCHS – said the style of coaching really prepared the squad that made two trips to the state finals.

For the remainder of this article please see the April 9, 2013 edition of The Erwin Record.