There are stirring victories in sports on an almost daily basis, but what the Radford baseball team did Friday transcended that.
Just days after Joey Raccuia, a Radford freshman, died in a car accident, his teammates rallied in the ninth inning and defeated Bryant 5-4 on a walkoff hit.
“(Raccuia) was clearly with us today,” head coach Alex Guerra said on the team’s website. “There’s absolutely no question about it. If you don’t believe in a higher power, you better start believing after that. It was fate.”
Radford wins in walk off fashion after freshman Joey Raccuia passed away Thursday. Truly remarkable these guys were able to gather themselves and win a baseball game two days later.
Baseball is special. pic.twitter.com/h8llBCRTy3
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) February 28, 2026
Raccuia, 19, was the son of Royals scout Joe Raccuia.
“Joey was passionate about life,” an obituary for Raccuia noted. “Outside of baseball, his favorite thing was spending time with his closest friends. He was a devoted fan of the Buffalo Bills and loved visiting his Buffalo family. Joey found a passion for the Kansas City Royals as he spent time around their major and minor league teams. Joey had a special knack for solving problems and building Legos.
“He was never afraid to stand up for the people he cared about — which, truly, was everyone. Joey loved structure and routine, and yes, he famously loved to shower — sometimes three times a day. His favorite color was royal blue. Joey loved in a way that was uniquely his — sometimes quietly, but always fiercely and with his whole heart.”
A memorial service is planned for Monday afternoon at Radford University with a celebration of life to follow.
Raccuia’s father has a hybrid role with the Royals. He “can float between scouting and player development while working with newly drafted players as they enter the organization,” a story on the team’s website said.
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