Heart of a champ: Reinagel excels, inspries with determined play

In Courtney Reinagel's case, a big enough heart can make even a major disability seem pretty insignificant.

After all, the 13-year-old's undying determination and optimistic attitude have all but taken the spot of her left hand.

Reinagel, a Kelso resident and member of the 12-and-under Heartland Nationals softball team that will begin play in the Babe Ruth softball World Series on Friday, was born with a left arm that extends only slightly past her elbow.

As a child, Reinagel tried using various types of artificial hand replacement, but she quickly realized she didn't want the help. She wanted to be natural -- two arms or one.

"I'd rather be myself," Reinagel said with a smile. "I've tried different things for my arm, but I'd always take them off.

"I wanted to find a way to do it myself."

And that's exactly what she's done.

Since kindergarten, Reinagel has been active in several sports, including volleyball, basketball and soccer. She is a member of the girls basketball team and cheerleading squad at St. Augustine grade school in Kelso, where she is entering the eighth grade.

Reinagel placed second at the regional Knights of Columbus free-throw contest this year after winning the local council and district competitions.

In softball, Reinagel pitches for her local recreation team and generally plays first base or outfield for the Heartland Nationals.

"I started practicing when I was little," she said. "I'd always try different ways of throwing and catching. I went to camps and asked different coaches what they thought.

"I've gotten used to it now."

These days, Reinagel has one-handed softball down to an art. On the mound, she has developed a quick exchange from bare hand to glove to bare hand again. Reinagel tucks her glove under her left shoulder while pitching the ball, then swiftly slides her right hand into the glove. If she happens to field the ball, she tucks the glove under her left upper arm and removes the ball for a throw.

Although she doesn't generate much power, Reinagel has been successful at the plate. She compiled a .333 batting average and struck out only five times in 50 at-bats during this summer's regular season.

"I'm not all about being the best," she said. "I can't expect to be the top player on the team. I just do what I can."

Courtney said without the help of her dad, Jeff Reinagel, she likely wouldn't be where she is today.

"He has helped a lot," Courtney said. "If he wouldn't have pushed me to be better, I wouldn't have tried to find different ways to play."

Jeff Reinagel, who has coached baseball and softball for 15 years, said he's never treated Courtney differently than the other players.

"I'm not going to ease up on her," Jeff said. "It would be too easy for her to use that as a crutch, so I treat her like anybody else.

"She's fine with where she fits in. She knows that's part of it, and she's trying to get treated just like everyone else. She responds to coaches well, and she's always accepted the challenge."

Courtney said people still give curious stares when they see her take the field, but she has been more than welcomed by her coaches and teammates.

"People tell me that I'm such an inspiration," she said.

Added Jeff: "Her coaches have been great to her. They always have given her a chance to play and always supported and encouraged her."

Courtney knows she's been blessed with a great deal of support, but praise and playing time aren't forefront on her mind. She's just happy to be a team player and have the opportunity to help others with handicaps.

"It does mean a lot to me to be on this team," Reinagel said of the Nationals, an all-star team made up of players from New Hamburg, Kelso and Oran. "It's like nothing is impossible.

"I want to show people that you can play no matter what and help them accomplish playing a sport with disabilities. I want to tell them not to give up."