In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, Randolph High School’s Connor Stokoe emerged as the hero, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the Rams to a 10-9 victory over Pope John.
Stokoe’s game-winning hit came at a crucial juncture, with the potential game-winning run on third base and the sun setting, threatening to end the game due to darkness. Having struggled with his two-strike approach in previous games, Stokoe focused on shortening his swing, a strategy that paid off handsomely.
Prior to Stokoe’s heroics, the game had been a rollercoaster of emotions. Randolph took an early 1-0 lead, only to see Pope John respond with four runs in the top of the third inning. The Rams chipped away at the deficit, eventually taking a 9-5 lead heading into the seventh.
However, Pope John displayed resilience, staging a furious rally in the top of the seventh, highlighted by Nick Struble’s two-out, two-run double that tied the game at 9. Undeterred, Randolph rallied in the bottom of the inning, with RJ Dougherty reaching third base on an error.
With the infield drawn in, Randolph coach Mark Rizzi instructed Stokoe to drive the ball to the outfield. Stokoe executed the plan perfectly, lacing a single into left field that brought Dougherty home with the winning run.
The victory underscores Randolph’s team spirit and resilience, as Stokoe emphasized the importance of the entire team contributing to the win. The win improves Randolph’s record to 11-1, while Pope John falls to 5-7.
