JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
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.