RHS Baseball closed out its 2024-2025 campaign with an 8-16 record, in a season defined by resilience, development and flashes of potential from a promising young team.
The Rams opened the season with back-to-back wins over Livingston and Union but quickly entered a tough stretch against state powers including Don Bosco Prep and Seton Hall Prep. Despite the losses, Randolph never stopped competing.
“I think that during the tougher stretches a lot of our difficulty was due to a lack of focus as a team,” senior shortstop AJ Terry said. “So, to put us on the right track, we tried to lock back in during our preparations.”
Terry was a key leader both on and off the field. He batted .403 with 31 hits, 21 RBIs, two home runs and five stolen bases while anchoring the infield. Junior Chase Lorent also turned in a standout season, hitting .338 with 13 RBIs and four home runs.
“My approach at the plate was simple; drive low line drives up the middle to stay balanced and consistent,” Lorent said. “Our team chemistry was strong throughout the year, but as the losses added up, it became tough to stay motivated.”
Randolph shined in several highlight moments. On April 16, the Rams completed a two-game sweep of Mendham with a 7-6 road victory. They also recorded a 6-0 shutout over Mount Olive and late-season wins over Roxbury (7-2) and Kinnelon (4-3) in the Morris County Tournament preliminary round.
Sophomore Matthew Paladino was a consistent presence on the mound, logging 52.2 innings with a 3.59 ERA. Senior Adam Sokolowski led the pitching staff with a 1.69 ERA over 29 innings.
Senior two-way player Andrew Dobres contributed on both sides, as a pitcher and first baseman as well as hitting .273 while posting a 2.37 ERA in 20.2 innings. Fellow senior pitcher Gavin Carlucci recorded a 3.03 ERA and was a key factor on the team, boasting 28 strikeouts over 37 innings.
Randolph’s Morris County Tournament (MCT) run ended in the first round with a 5-3 loss to Morristown. The team then wrapped up its regular season with a road defeat to Jefferson on May 24. Just three days later, the Rams traveled to Wayne Hills for the opening round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 Tournament, where their season came to a close with a 6-4 loss.
“This season showed me that it’s never over until it’s over, Carlucci said. “We had games where we fought back late, and that mindset carries over into life too.”
The Rams will graduate several key seniors—Terry, Carlucci, Dobres, Sokolowski, and Griffin Carroll—but return a talented group of underclassmen. Lorent and Paladino are expected to lead the charge next season, along with freshman Andrew Swanick, who hit .219 with 10 RBIs in his debut year.
“There’s a lot of potential in guys who played their first year of varsity,” Terry said. “Having that experience should help them in the future.”
While the record may not show the full story, Randolph’s season was built on effort, heart and growth, laying the foundation for what’s next.
