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JBSA News
NEWS | March 9, 2016

Randolph High School baseball team wins first-ever tournament title

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

When the Randolph High School Ro-Hawks baseball team won the title at the Charlotte High School tournament in Charlotte, Texas, Feb. 27, it was a history-making moment for the team.

The Ro-Hawks went 3-1 in the tournament and shut out all three opponents they defeated on their way to the tournament championship. In the games they won, Randolph outscored their opponents 44-0. Their only loss came against host Charlotte, 7-2.

Randolph coach Bradley McElroy said the tournament title was the first-ever in the 26-year history of the school’s baseball program, which started in 1988.

McElroy said the Ro-Hawks took the first place trophy at the Charlotte tournament with solid defense, pitching and consistent hitting.

Since a tiebreaker was needed for the Ro-Hawks to win the round robin tournament, McElroy said Randolph had to win their last two games Feb. 27 to have a chance of taking the tournament title. The Ro-Hawks came through with dominating wins over the La Vernia junior varsity squad, 9-0, and San Antonio School of Excellence, 22-0, in five innings.

“We had to win by shutouts to win the whole thing,” McElroy said. “The kids stepped up and played hard.”

Two Randolph players, senior pitcher/first baseman Jared Sloan and sophomore second baseman Michael Stokes, were selected to the Charlotte all-tournament team. Sloan was 2-0 in the games he pitched, including a 13-0 win over Cotulla and against the La Vernia junior varsity. In both games, he had a combined seven strikeouts and did not give up any runs.

Stokes hit .562 and scored seven runs in the tournament.

Austin Zurovec, a freshman, pitched a no-hitter against San Antonio School of Excellence and had eight strikeouts.

McElroy said winning the tournament should provide momentum for the Ro-Hawks the rest of the season as they compete in District 26-3A, which includes Randolph, Marion, Natalia and Cole.

Thirteen of Randolph’s players are seniors, most of whom have been on the team for three seasons. Randolph restarted its baseball program in 2014 after not fielding a team the previous two years.

Ever since the baseball program was restarted, McElroy said the Ro-Hawks have improved each season. In the first season the program was reinstated, McElroy said his priorities were to get players out and interested in baseball and teaching the fundamentals of the game.

Last year, the Ro-Hawks finished third in district, which qualified them for the playoffs.

McElroy said he has higher expectations for the Ro-Hawks this season.

“We are at the point now we can take the extra step and try to win a district championship and advance in the playoffs,” McElroy said. “The kids are playing with more confidence. They are taking more time on their own to practice and get better. They are taking a big part of the ownership in the improvements we are making. This is a really good group of guys that have a lot of dedication, and they work really well together.”

Randolph’s next game is Friday on the road against San Marcos Baptist Academy. The Ro-Hawks host Cotulla Tuesday, March 15, at the Judson Middle School baseball field.