Gone but not forgotten, Richard Lundy is White Knoll softball’s angel in the outfield

The reminders hit you as soon as you pull into the parking lot at White Knoll High School.

The softball field at the school sits down in a valley, several steps to the playing surface. Before you embark on the trek down those steep steps, the message is spelled out with red Solo cups along the fence.

“In Loving Memory of Coach Lundy.”

As you get near the field, another banner hangs behind the stadium bleachers. It features four photos of Richard Lundy, the former assistant coach who touched many lives over his 23 seasons coaching softball. Another reminder comes a few steps later where a wreath hangs from another set of bleachers.

Finally, the players’ batting helmets have a decal honoring Lundy.

Lundy was 77 years old when he died Jan. 8. He has been a staple in the South Carolina softball community since the late 1980s. He guided Brookland-Cayce to four state championships — 1989, 1998, 2000 and 2002. He finished as state runner-up four times. Lundy coached at the school for 37 years and had stints with football and basketball as well.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words,” White Knoll head coach April Farr said. “He’s such an influence on anybody’s life. He touched all of these girls’ lives. He’s just that person. He would be right there for them, do anything for them. They looked up to him so much.

“It’s hard to explain what he brought to this program. Anybody that knew him or was a part of him knew exactly what I’m talking about. You can’t put into words what he brings to a program.”

In 23 years as a head softball coach, he never had a losing season. He won 594 games in his career. In 2000, Lundy was named S.C. National Federation of High Schools Association Softball Coach of the Year.

But his reach went well beyond the playing field. One life that Lundy directly impacted, maybe more than others, is Farr.

The Timberwolves’ head coach played for Lundy at Brookland-Cayce, and the duo won a state championship together in 1989. Farr graduated from B-C in 1992, but that far from ended the coach-player relationship.

Farr is Lundy’s daughter-in-law. When she first became a head coach at A.C. Flora in 2013, her first call was to Lundy to see if he was interested in helping. He jumped at the opportunity and joined her staff. A year later, Farr was hired at White Knoll — Lundy moved with her. White Knoll won the Class 5A state championship in 2018.

They’ve been together in the dugout ever since.

Until now.

“It’s been tough not to be out here without him, but we know he’s our angel sitting out there in the outfield looking over us,” Farr said.

The loss of Lundy has been felt far and wide. Senior Lexi Winters has started on the varsity level since she was a seventh-grader. She lost her grandfather two years ago and related that experience to what it was like to lose Lundy.

“He was like a grandfather to all of us,” Winters said. “For me personally, my grandfather passed away two years ago, so (Lundy) was kind of a comfort to me for that. We know he’s with us in spirit though; that’s the main thing.”

The first game of the season March 3 was maybe the hardest for Farr and the entire Timberwolves team. Lundy was not in his customary spot in the dugout. Tears gave way to the thrills of victory that day, but the memory of Coach Lundy will be forever in the hearts of the lives he touched.

“There are still times I catch myself wanting to ask his advice on something. It might not even be softball related,” Farr said. “It was a big loss for our program and the community. It’s still difficult for me to talk about. There will never be anyone like Coach Lundy again.”