Halfway through the season, sophomore shortstop AJ Terry has been having a big second year at the varsity level, following a successful summer where he made his verbal commitment to play Division 1 baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“It felt amazing,” Terry said, when asked how it felt to announce that he would continue playing baseball in college. “The goal I set for myself when I was younger to play Division 1 baseball was now right in front of me, and announcing it, and getting all the support from friends and family was something I won’t forget.”

Although he is one of the youngest players on the RHS team, it doesn’t stop Terry from contributing both on and off the field. At press time, stats were available for Terry’s first 11 games, which showed him having a .433 batting average accompanied by 6 RBIs and a team-leading 12 runs scored. The team’s ability to succeed in all aspects of the game has helped them achieve their 7-5 record, which they hope to see improve as they start counties.

“Having AJ on the team is an amazing opportunity for the program and all of our players,” senior pitcher and infielder Brendan Bruun said. “He adds another level of talent and inspires the rest of the team to work hard. He’s a great teammate, especially to the new guys. He holds all of us to a level of respect that would definitely not be there had he not been on the team.”

Since first coming to Randolph, Terry has caught the attention of many due to his quick hands in the field and his smooth swing at the plate. Being effective on both sides is what makes him such a great player and an important member of the baseball program.

“AJ is a special talent, said Mark Rizzi, the Varsity Baseball head coach. “I think his teammates know that and are much happier playing with him than against him.  Coaches always like developing players like AJ who have outstanding tools. He’s very coachable and wants to win every time he steps on the field. To have a successful season, a team must have every player contribute at some point during the season. We expect AJ to be a huge contributor this year and beyond.”

When it comes to this season, Terry is well on his way to achieving his goals for himself and the team. “My goals for this season are to win counties and states,” he said. “I think that we have a very good shot at winning counties this year, and I believe that we are one of the better public schools in the state. I have high goals for myself, as I want to make first team all-county, first team all-conference, and potentially first team all-state.”

With the season halfway over, Terry and the rest of the team have set the tone for another successful spring, with a good chance to win counties and perhaps even states.