By I.C. Murrell
icmurrell@stwnewspress.com
STILLWATER, Okla. —
To say that Griffith Roark can go a long way in his baseball career is an understatement.
The recent Stillwater High graduate not only will play in tonight’s Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State large-school game, and not only does he already have a non-scholarship roster spot at Oklahoma State — with an academic scholarship in tow, on top of that. He spent the past few weeks playing with a Springfield, Mo.-based traveling team.
The All-Star large-school game is at 7 p.m. in Tulsa at Oral Roberts University’s J.L. Johnson Stadium. Ripley’s Kaleb Hoffman is expected to play today in the small-school game at 4:30 p.m.
The Midwest Nationals ballclub has given the second baseman and shortstop early visits to Big 12 fields at Nebraska, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
“We’d meet up in Springfield every weekend and travel to a different college to play games,” Roark said Sunday. “It’s really good experience. The instruction I got from the coaches was really good. It prepared me as much as I can be prepared.”
The Nationals 18-under team’s season went from May 28-July 18.
Roark hit approximately .360, according to high school coach Tony Holt, while helping Stillwater reach the finals of its Class 6A regional tournament against Jenks. He even pitched a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, but gave up a hit and Jenks went on to win the game.
Roark was very valuable at the plate, leading the Pioneers in five offensive categories.
“He’ll be a tough guy to replace,” Holt said. “He brings a lot to the table just with the arm strength.”
Holt said Roark improved himself in different parts of his during his Pioneer career.
“He’s quite a special person and a special athlete,” Holt said. “Griffith’s going to be successful, no matter what he does.”
For Roark, being at All-State — on another Division-I field — is what he called “a humbling experience.”
“There are a lot of good players here, and it’s fun,” he said.
