ENTERPRISE — Ryland Randall saw two childhood dreams come true Friday afternoon.
The Enterprise High School senior signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota.
In so doing, he also guaranteed that a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be in his future shortly after he graduates high school.
“Minot was really nice about letting me go (on a mission),” Randall told St. George News at his signing ceremony at Enterprise High School Friday afternoon.
“I was pretty worried going into the meeting to talk with them, but they were really nice in that they let me go and have that be my lifelong dream,” he added. “Two dreams in one, that’s kind of awesome.”
Randall has been a standout athlete at Enterprise on the basketball court and especially on the baseball diamond.
He came up just short of a state championship, losing in the finals three times on the hardwood and once in baseball during his career.
“I think it’s every kid’s dream to play in the state championship, and not only that, to win it,” Randall said. “I’ve been extremely blessed, I feel, throughout my four years so far. All four were second-place, which kind of stings.
“Last year we made it pretty decently far in the (baseball) tournament and we had a really young team. We only lost one senior. With all the kids returning and how well we did last year, I think we got a really good chance this year.”
Randall said he plans to study cybersecurity during his classes at Minot State.
When he’s on the diamond, he’ll play middle infield for the Beavers, an NCAA Division II team that competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
Randall won’t be the lone Utahn at Minot State as the Beavers roster also features freshman Dalin Ludlow from Nephi.
“All my family on the Randall side just loves baseball, so I’ve grown up in baseball,” Randall said. “We have videos of me when I was young, like 3 years old. I’ve just always had a big love for the game, I love to compete.
“It’s a tough game to stay good at. It’s definitely a failing sport. But when you succeed you can really see how much hard work it takes. It’s fun to see.”
Enterprise baseball coach Kyle Bundy was on hand to see his star player commit the next level.
“It’s pretty dang awesome,” Bundy said. “He grew up across the street from us so we’ve watched him his whole life. He’s been our No. 1 pitcher for the last couple of years. He’s also our shortstop.
“Great stick. Hits the heck out of the ball when he puts it in play. Just fundamentally sound. He’s definitely a top notch player.”
The coach went on to say that Randall is special off the field as well.
“He’s extremely humble,” Bundy said. “Just a great role model for a lot of the kids around here to look up to. When he wants something he works hard for it. He’s not one to kind of just take it and run. He’s dedicated at whatever he does.”
Ryland’s father Duke Randall detailed the long process the whole family went through as Ryland was recruited over the years.
“Ever since he was 8 years old, he’s wanted to play,” Duke Randall said. “So I coached him a lot in Little League and I could see that he had potential to play competitive ball.”
At the point Ryland started going to St. George every summer to play, developing his skills with some of the best players in the state.
“We traveled all around the United States playing all over the place,” Duke Randall said. “Most of the time it was on the West Coast. He played in Cooperstown, New York, when he was 12 and just loved it.”
He added that over time Ryland had offers to play at a variety of schools, mostly junior colleges and community colleges.
“Minot State saw him at a tournament in Arizona, and when he flew out there and visited in North Dakota he just fell in love with the place,” Duke Randall said. “The program out there, the coaching staff, everything out there fit for him.”
And when the coaching staff agreed to hold his scholarship for two years so he could serve a mission, Ryland knew he was heading to the right place.
“I thought he represented himself very well out there,” Duke Randall said. “He just said that he’s had these two long goals that he’s wanted to do his whole life. The coaching staff allowed him to follow his dream.”
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