In the popular movie about a women’s baseball league from the 1940s, “A League of Their Own,” Tom Hanks’ character, Jimmy Dugan, utters these words: “There’s no crying in baseball.’’
Had Dugan been in Pascagoula on Saturday afternoon before Resurrection Catholic School’s Class 1A playoff game against Ethel, he would have retracted those words as tears of sadness and joy flowed at a ceremony placing Lee Tingle’s No. 17 in the Eagles Baseball Ring of Honor.
Tingle was preparing for his first season as coach at RCS after many years as an assistant when he contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and died at the age of 52 on Dec. 2, 2022, his dad Leon’s birthday.
Saturday was a bittersweet day. Just hours before the ceremony for Tingle, longtime RCS supporter Gene Frederick, father of current RCS coach Aron Frederick, died after a heart procedure.
After Tingle’s death, Frederick took over coaching duties and guided the Eagles to their second straight state championship. Now the Eagles are trying to make it three in a row while again dealing with heartache.
Lee Tingle was well known in Pascagoula as a respected physical therapist, owner of a physical therapy business, and an active supporter of youth sports, particularly baseball as a volunteer coach. His death from the mysterious disease shook the town and community and brought out an outpouring of support not often seen.
Leon and his wife, Brenda; Lee’s wife, Melissa; and their children Tayler (30), Ty (24), and Trace (18), and other Tingle family members were on the field for the presentation to hang Lee’s No. 17 on the outfield fence. Melissa asked Gene’s family to join them on the field for the ceremony as RCS fans and supporters stood with teary eyes.
“It was an honor for the school to do that,’’ Melissa Tingle said of the jersey ceremony. “It was extremely emotional with the passing of Mr. Gene. He was like a father to so many.’’
Trace, a senior, is currently wearing the jersey proudly worn by his brother and dad.
Stories about Lee Tingle’s concern for others and going the extra mile are legendary.
“There was something special about Lee,’’ Melissa Tingle said. “You could call him any time of day. People often stopped by the house for advice. He was extremely caring and loving and always there for the kids and his family.”
After Tingle’s death, the city of Pascagoula honored him by naming the city-owned baseball field Lee Tingle Park. Tingle and many others had worked hard in the revitalization of the former MCC Park.
Melissa has been the announcer for RCS games at the field for 13 years and says this is her last.
“Saying ‘Welcome to Lee Tingle Park,’ is hard. Very emotional for me.’’
Former Pascagoula High and RCS baseball coach Johnny Olsen coached Lee, who played second base at PHS, was happy to have him as an assistant.
“I wouldn’t have taken the job without Lee as an assistant,’’ Olsen said.
When Olsen retired after coaching the Eagles to their first state title in 2022, Lee was ready to take over. Tingle had been instrumental in getting the RCS seventh- and eighth-grade programs started and eventually, he moved up to be an assistant.
“Lee was ready to take over when I stepped down,” said Olsen, who was placed in the RCS Ring of Honor a couple of weeks ago. “He was always positive. He would keep me in check. He did all the work during the week, and I showed up for the games. I couldn’t have done it without Lee and Aron.’’
Olsen added that Tingle was one of the hardest-working players he ever coached and tried to instill that work ethic into the players.
“He worked at the game really hard as a player, then went to college the same way. He was a good college player,’’ Olsen said. “He tried to pass that on to his players.’’
Leon and Brenda are living a father and mother’s worst nightmare, having a child die before them.
But fond memories and positive comments help them make it through the days and long nights.
Leon said it’s hard for him and Brenda to wrap their heads around seeing a strong, vibrant son taken so fast by a disease for which there is no cure.
“He was healthy and took care of himself,’’ Leon said. “He went to the gym, worked out. He did what he needed to do to stay in shape. He never smoked. It’s just an awful disease.’’
Leon added that his son was more than a son to him.
“Most guys want a role model as a father. He was my role model,’’ Leon said.
Brian Hinkel served as master of ceremonies on Saturday. He said Lee was one of the finest men he’s ever had the pleasure to call friend.
“I’ll be forever grateful for the impact he had on my son Harris’ life,’’ Hinkel said.
He said that Tingle drove to Pensacola to be in the room when his son had elbow surgery.
“That was Lee in a nutshell,” Hinkel said. “Always going above and beyond to impact his players’ lives. I’ll be forever grateful to Melissa and the Tingle family for allowing me to play a small part in this ceremony. I was proud to honor a friend I miss dearly.’’
Hinkel mentioned in the ceremony three goals that Lee had for the athletic program: 1. Love the process; 2. Confidence comes with skill acquisition; and 3. Team over self.
Some of Tingle’s accomplishments include: organizing the startup program at RCS in 2013; leading the RCS middle school team to an Eastern Division co-championship in 2014; helping lead RCS to its first South State series in 2017; and serving as an assistant for South State championships in 2021 and 2022 and the school’s first state title in 2022.
After graduating from PHS in 1990, Tingle played baseball at West Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, and William Carey University, where he was an Academic All-American and All- Conference selection.
