Rylie Rokusek has earned several awards playing baseball and basketball, but he says the greatest one so far is signing a letter of intent to play baseball at State Fair Community College. The Holden, MO native is set to play for the Roadrunners starting this fall and took time to tell his experience of making it to the next level…and a great fishing story.
Congrats for signing to play at State Fair. Can you tell us what the process was like?
Thank you. It was pretty simple, actually. State Fair’s coach, Jud Kindle, reached out to me, and after discussing his offer with my parents, I knew SFCC was the right school for me. I haven’t picked a major yet, so having the opportunity to ease into college was a huge benefit for me. Plus, if I hit a few key markers, I will get playing time my freshman year. That was huge in making this decision.
Playing time as a freshman is a huge benefit that many first-year players don’t get. Do you know what position you will play?
I will pitch for the Roadrunners. That has been my primary position for most of my baseball career. I play 1st base and 3rd base, but I really just want to pitch.
You’ve earned a few awards as a high school athlete. Can you share some of them?
I earned all-conference honors in baseball as a sophomore. Then, in my junior year, I was named all-conference, all-district, and all-state. That year, I was also named All-Johnson County player as a pitcher. My senior year, I was named the 2019 Johnson County Baseball Player of the Year, first-team all-conference and all-district. That year I was also selected 2nd Team All-State and had the opportunity to play in the 2019 Seniors All-Star Game. I was also a two-time All-Johnson County selection for basketball.
Wow. That is an impressive list! What would you say was your most memorable experience playing baseball in high school?
Without a doubt, it was throwing a shut-out complete game against Knob Noster. It was the sectional game for the state playoffs. There was a ton of pressure on the team to play well because Holden had never won a sectional game. Before the game, we told each other that this was our game, and knowing that the team was behind me allowed me to be relaxed on the mound. Winning that game was a stepping stone to taking 3rd in state, and making it to the state final four is a baseball memory I will never forget.
That’s awesome! Do you do anything to relax…anything that’s not related to sports?
I love fishing and playing video games. Holden is pretty rural, so I’m outside all the time. I know it’s still a sport, but I also like playing golf. I really like eating pizza, cheeseburgers, and tacos, too.
Anyone who fishes has a great fishing story. Do you?
Ha! Of course. My friend Dylan and I were fishing when I hooked what felt like a huge fish. When it jumped out of the water, I could see that it was giant. I reeled it in but needed Dylan’s help to land it. He couldn’t reach it from the bank, so he jumped in and wrestled it out of the water. It was the biggest bass either of us had seen. But, when we put it on the scale, it weighed only 4.3 pounds. We looked at each other with a blank stare because there was no way this monster bass weighed 4.3 pounds. Then, we noticed the scale was set to measure in kilograms. D’OH! We did the math and realized it was actually 9.5 pounds! That is (so far) the biggest bass I have ever caught.
Catching a 10-pound bass will definitely keep you coming back. Where were you fishing?
That’s a secret (wink).
Of course, it is. This year is your third season playing with Inside Edge Baseball. How would you summarize your experience?
It’s been awesome. I love how the coaches approach teaching the game. I know that I can ask them for advice or tips and that they are always trying to help me to improve my game. I’ve had a lot of great coaches over the years that all helped me become the player I am today. Todd and Dave are a big part of that and I have really enjoyed playing for them. I’ve also had a lot of great teammates who’ve become great friends.
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