LANCE'S LANE: Tascosa's Javen Patrick, Caprock's Roger King, Jr. display qualities expected of Randy Keller Scholarship

This time of year high school seniors across this great land start getting real about graduating and starting life in the real world.

This time includes seniors finding out if they receive a scholarship for whatever they may have applied for.

One of those scholarships here in Amarillo is called the Randy Keller Scholarship.

The Keller was started back in 1993 and is named for the baseball-loving, life-loving Tascosa baseball player who tragically passed away in a car wreck a few weeks before the start of his senior year.

Randy Keller was a gritty player, not the biggest and not the fastest. But definitely the owner of the dirtiest uniform. He was awarded the Fighting Heart Award his junior year at Tascosa and the award has never been given away since.

So the Keller Scholarship is about a player owning a Fighting Heart for life and on the baseball field. And, the Keller is about many with a gracious heart led by The Eye Guy, Avery Rush of Rush Eye Associates.

The scholarship is worth $20,000, the largest associated with the Amarillo Independent School District.

Those who can apply for The Keller are Amarillo ISD senior baseball players from Caprock, Palo Duro, Amarillo High and Tascosa. So think about that? That’s a pretty small pool the winner arrives from.

Full disclosure here, Randy’s parents Don and Carol Keller invited me to be on the committee, something I cherish.

The players show up a little surprised by the interview since suddenly they are sitting in front of 10-12 people. It’s not an interrogation, but more of a get-to-know interview.

What I’m here to report is our future is in great hands with the youth of this world. Every year I’m blown away by the maturity of the answers, the goals of the players and their sheer ability to handle the interview situation that has to be awkward for them.

The decision is never easy.

Last week, eight baseball players from the AISD were interviewed for the Keller. Every one of those eight touched my heart with something they said. Every one of them.

From Palo Duro’s Ismael Miguel Lee and Marquis Palmer, to Caprock’s Roger Anthony King, Jr. and Ethan Gayton, to Tascosa’s Robert Byrce Pearson (the valedictorian for Class of 2022) and Javen Patrick, to Amarillo’s Hadley Cox and Brock Wade.

Each one deserves a tip of the cap and the scholarship.

However, the committee had to pick a winner, and in this case, it was winners with Tascosa’s Patrick and Caprock’s King.

Both are playing college ball next year with Patrick in the first class at Amarillo College and King is headed over to Borger and Frank Phillips.

A few hours after the interview, Patrick and King were informed last Thursday evening they were Keller Scholarship recipients.

Both became emotional. Patrick yelled out to his special needs brother, Jaxon, “we won.” King, a big dude, breaking out in tears.

“Hearing I was receiving the Randy Keller Scholarship meant the world to me,” King said. “It’s truly going to help me and my family as I’m pursuing my dream (to play D-I baseball).”

King said his coaches at Caprock “were extremely proud” and had no idea the large number attached with the scholarship.

“There is a sense of excitement around my house for sure,” King said. “I know my parents are super proud of this happening and so am I.”

I’m telling ya, I was proud to be in that room last Thursday listening to these young men speak. For one of the first times in the 30 years of the scholarship, each one had a legit reason to say yes this is the winner.

For instance, Wade is as fine and respectful young man as you will ever meet.

For instance, Palmer has an amazing personality and kindness about him. Then Gayton, showing class dishing out high praise for his Caprock teammate King, even though he wanted the scholarship as much as anyone on Planet Earth.

Over the next few weeks, scholarship winners will be announced for seniors all over the U.S. I have a gut feeling I’m not the only one impressed by the Class of 2022.

Thumbs Up

► Ray Baca: The head girls track coach at Canyon High led his Lady Eagles to the Region I-4A championship Saturday in Lubbock. Baca is a track guru and detail man down to the last drop. Like he had cold, wet towels awaiting his athletes after competing in their events Saturday. I didn’t see that gesture from any other coach. Look for Baca and his Canyon team to be in the mix for a Texas 4A state track girls title.

► Mackie Land: You have to get out and see this Panhandle High senior run. Land ran a 23.8 in the 200 at the Region I-2A meet at West Texas A&M Saturday. That time might not mean much to most of us, but what that 23.8 represents is the fastest 200 ever run by a girl in the Texas Panhandle.

► Jerry Jones: The Dallas Cowboys owner gets a lot of flak for being too involved with personnel and day-to-day operations. I love it. I mean what other owner is going to sit at a press conference and show his team’s personal ranking of players — which I’m sure they spent months building and wanted nobody to see — proving his No. 1 draft choice was ranked above other players selected earlier in the draft.

► Isaac McGill: The Amarillo High senior long-distance runner qualified for state in the 3,200- and 1,600-meter races at the Region I-5A meet in Lubbock. This kid is a joy to be around, can go on a deep dive on running race and is easy to root for.

More: Monterey's David Mora pours all into 1,600 victory, Region I-5A notes

► Tyreese Molden: This Amarillo High senior won two golds and a silver at the Region I-5A meet winning the 200 and on the gold medal Sandies 800 Relay team. The kid is smooth and fast. And an honest quote. “I wanted three golds, but I’ll take two,” breaking into a smile.

More: Tyreese Molden claims gold in 200, Amarillo High boys secure team title

► Mike Meeks: The executive director of Athletics for the Lubbock ISD was quite the host to the coaches, workers and media at the Region I-5A/1-4A track meet last Saturday in Lubbock. I’m not alone when I say thanks.

Thumbs Down

► Appraisal notices in the mail: Any homeowner in Amarillo knows their home value skyrocketed up with the latest appraisal letters sent out. I mean it’s cool to know the value of a home in Amarillo is on the rise, but along with that good news is higher taxes. Meaning, the timing couldn’t have been worse for those voting May 7 on building a new Austin Middle School, indoor facilities at the four AISD high schools, a new pool and more. City of Amarillo, shame on you.

► Minor league baseball for moving second base: At the midway mark of this current pro baseball season minor league teams — including the Sod Poodles — will move second base closer to home plate by 13.5 inches. Why? Is nothing sacred? Let’s move the baskets from 10 to 12 feet. Let’s make a first down in football nine yards. This change is not necessary and quite honestly ridiculous to the integrity of the game.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Lance Lahnert's weekly column can be found every Monday in the Amarillo Globe-News. Lance can be seen and heard Monday through Friday on The Sports Drive (3-4 p.m.) at NewsChannel Too 10.2.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Tascosa's Patrick, Caprock's King, Jr. earn Randy Keller Scholarship