Scholarships

Captain Al Mandel, Jr.
Memorial Baseball Scholarship

We are pleased to announce the Captain Al Mandel, Jr. Memorial Baseball Scholarship. This annual scholarship benefits a graduating senior Carroll High School student athlete who played baseball for the varsity Tigers and is pursuing a college/university degree while continuing to play baseball.

Al graduated from Carroll High School in 1972. He was a starting pitcher for the 1972 Carroll High School varsity baseball team that was inducted into the Carroll High School Hall of Fame in October 2024. (see photo below)

Following graduation, Al attended Bee County College, now Coastal Bend College (CBC) on a baseball scholarship and pitched at the NJCAA Division III level for the Cougars from 1973 to 1975. Al also continued to pitch at the semi pro baseball level in Corpus Christi for Taylor Brothers teams that advanced to the nationals.

Upon retiring from competitive baseball, Al began his working career at Coastal Corporation refinery as a master electrician but maintained his love for baseball. In 1972, Al coached a Little League prep team at Southside Little League, winning the league championship. Al was passionate about all things “Baseball” and kept up with baseball at every level. Al’s commitment to the youth of this area was exemplified by the sponsoring, mentoring, umpiring and coaching that he provided for various local sports teams. He was also an avid MLB fan and especially an Astros baseball fanatic, whether listening to Astros games on the radio, or watching them on TV or attending games in person at Minute Maid ballpark in Houston. He would often talk out loud to the radio, TV or at the game telling the pitcher on the mound which pitch type and plate location to throw next to strike out the batter!

Upon retiring from Coastal Corporation, Al turned to his second passion of saltwater fishing and began studying for his Coast Guard captain’s license and upon obtaining his USCG boat captain’s license, he became known as “Captain Al”. He truly enjoyed his interactions and storytelling with guests and friends as a local fishing guide on his boat, Al especially loved fishing the Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi Bay waters. Al had a compassionate heart, always mentoring our youth and helping those most in need in the community. His “service to others” legacy lives on as the Mandel family continues to meet many people in the community who tell us how Al helped them or their family in their time of need. Al loved the outdoors and believed in our stewardship and conservation responsibilities and obligations and used to advocate for all of us to leave our native lands and waterways in better shape than we found them in. Al was a longtime member and advocate of the Coastal Conservation Association’s local initiatives.

The Captain Al Mandel, Jr. Memorial Baseball Scholarship provides for deserving Carroll High School graduating student athletes to honor his memory and for Al’s legacy to live on via our future student athlete recipients. The scholarship is generously funded by the Mandel family.

The scholarship currently offers a $1000 award per year (payable directly to the institution), for up to 4 years of playing baseball at the collegiate level. The application must be renewed each year. The Carroll High School Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors reserves the right to change these conditions at any time, with or without notice.

Application Form

Click here to download the application form.