Radford, Virginia — Radford woke up Wednesday to the heartbreaking news that 19‑year‑old Joey Raccuia, a freshman infielder with the Radford University baseball team, died in a single‑vehicle crash on East Street. Police say officers were called just after 11:20 a.m. to the 10 block of East Street and found one car damaged and Raccuia inside. Emergency responders tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
People around town describe Joey as hardworking and full of promise, a young man with a love for baseball that ran deep in his family. He was set to begin his collegiate career just this spring after starring at Radford High School and training at PDG Academy in Fredericksburg. His teammates had been preparing for a home series starting Friday; now they are struggling to make sense of a sudden loss so close to the season’s start.
Radford University officials have not released details on what caused the crash and say the investigation is ongoing. Friends and classmates are offering support to his family, and members of the Highlander community are gathering to remember the boy who wore the Radford uniform with pride. Those who knew him talk about his bright smile and steady presence in the infield, imagining all the plays and walks he won’t get to make.
Mr. Raccuia’s father, Joe Raccuia, once led the Radford baseball program as head coach for 12 seasons and left behind a legacy in the community. Now the father carries the weight of far deeper grief. Players, coaches and neighbors are rallying around the family in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s crash, reminding each other of how precious and fragile life can be.
School administrators have not yet said if the upcoming baseball games will be postponed or played as scheduled. Some players have gathered quietly near the dugout, sharing memories of laughs in the locker room and long afternoons practicing sun‑baked infield drills. The team’s rhythm has been interrupted, replaced now with a heavier rhythm of loss.
Around Radford, there are flowers and notes taped to jersey numbers and baseball caps. People speak of Joey not just as an athlete, but as a kid from the neighborhood who carried his town with him. The community continues to mourn, holding onto the memory of his easy laugh and the promise he showed in every game he played.
