Radford Baseball Freshman Joey Raccuia Dies in Crash

Joey Raccuia, a 19-year-old freshman on the Radford University baseball team, died in a single-vehicle crash on East Main Street in Radford, Virginia, on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. near the university's baseball stadium, and first responders provided medical assistance at the scene, where Raccuia was pronounced dead.

Authorities have not released the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation by the Radford Police Department. Officials are seeking witnesses and have asked anyone with information to contact Capt. J.L. Slaughter at 540-267-3711.

Raccuia, a middle infielder and right-handed pitcher from PDG Academy, had appeared in two of the Highlanders' first seven games this season, both as a second baseman. He recorded no hits in three at-bats but showed promise as a versatile player early in his college career. The team holds a 5-2 record and is scheduled to host Bryant University for a three-game series starting Friday.

The news of Raccuia's death prompted an outpouring of grief from the Radford baseball program, where the family name has deep roots. The team announced his passing in an Instagram post on Thursday, stating, "We are...