Local baseball teams Bradley Central and Cleveland now know when and where their TSSAA Sectional games will be played.
Both best-of-3 series will get underway Thursday, with a slightly difference schedule.
With the 17th-ranked Bears (27-7) nipping the Blue Raiders 2-1 in 10 innings in Sunday's Region 3-4A championship game, they will get to host seventh-ranked Riverdale (37-9).
The Warriors will come to the McKenzie Baseball Complex for a doubleheader Thursday starting at 5 p.m., with a third game if necessary game set for Friday afternoon at 1.
Ranked 27th in the latest Maxpreps poll, Cleveland (24-12) will travel to Murfreesboro to battle 10th-ranked Siegel (29-12).
The Raiders and Stars will commence Thursday with a 7 p.m. (EDT) first pitch, plus Friday game at 4 p.m. and the if needed game Saturday at 2 p.m.
The series victors will advance to the TSSAA State Championships, next week at the Spring Fling, in Murfreesboro.
After dropping its first five games against tough competition in No. 1-ranked (DII-A) Boyd Buchanan and four strong Florida teams, Bradley has won 27 of its last 29 games, sweeping through the District 6-4A competition and tournament without a loss.
A pair of one-run pitcher's duels wins over McMinn County and Cleveland in the Region 3 event over the weekend, marks the first time since 2018 the Bears have won both the district and region crowns.
Playing in their fifth substate playoffs in the last half dozen seasons, including their 2019 state runner-up run, Coach Travis Adams's "sleuth" is led by six college sports signees. In his 17 seasons as "Papa Bear," Adams has a 334-188-5 record.
Lee University signee Alex Brew won his second straight District Player of the Year award this season and is three-way threat.
As the pitching staff's ace, the southpaw is 4-1, with a 1.50 ERA and a 1.243 WHIP. He has 57 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched, with opponents hitting just .205 off him and allowing 10 earned runs this season.
Patrolling centerfield when not on the bump, his wide defensive coverage area features a .984 fielding percentage, with 47 putouts and 13 assists.
As the Bear leadoff hitter, the four-year starter is tops on the squad with a .386 batting average, a .542 on base percentage and a 1.000 OPS. His 32 hits include four doubles and a triple, plus he is 17-for-19 on stolen base attempts, with 27 runs scored and 17 RBI. He has also draw 32 free passes this season.
Protecting Brew as the No. 2-hitter All-District junior Jaxon Humble has impressive numbers as well at the dish. He is second on the team with a .356 BA, .504 OBP, .533 Slg%, 1.038 OPS.
While also playing a strong second base, Humble leads the team with 29 runs scored and 26 RBI, with nine doubles, two triples and a homer in his 32 hits. He has draw 27 free passes and is 11-for-11 on stolen bases.
Cleveland State signee Hank Adams, has also knocked 32 hits, including five two-baggers. The All-District shortstop is hitting .344, with a .411 OBP, plus has scored 22 times and driven in 15 teammates, plus has seven swipes.
Sophomore Tyler Cook broke into the starting lineup midway through the season and has responded by getting on base .484, with a .341 average. He has three doubles and a home run in his 15 hits, with nine "ribbies" and nine runs scored in just 44 at bats.
Also helping out the pitching staff, mainly as a reliever, Cook started the region championship game with the Raiders, firing 7.2 innings of two-hit ball with nine Ks.
The No. 3 hitter, Luke Keith has a .293 BA, with a .458 OBP, an .882 OPS, with 25 RBI and 23 runs scored. The UTC football signee plays third and first base and has four two-baggers, a triple and a homer in his 27 hits.
Bryan College signee Josh Leek has had a strong senior season, with a .485 OBP, while .286 for a .885 OPS. He has 20 hits and 29 free passes in 103 plate appearances, with four doubles and a homer, driving in 21 and and scoring 13 times.
On the mound, Leek is 7-3 with a .269 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. The big righty has struck out 41 in 39 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .196 BA.
Volunteering before the season to move from a starting role to be the team's closer, senior Brody Casteel is following older brother's Ryan and Cooper's example of heading to play for Cleveland State.
Throwing in the upper 80s, the right-hander has a 1-1 record in relief and set a new Bear record with 10 saves, in as many opportunities this season. With a 1.82 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, he has struck out 35 in 27 inning pitched.
As a team, the Bears are averaging just over seven runs an outing, with a .296 BA and a .449 OBP. A total of 61 of their 234 hits have gone for extra bases.
Riverdale comes to town toting five Spring Fling appearances in the last dozen seasons, behind 17-year veteran head coach Barry Messer's more than 400 wins.
The 13-senior Warrior lineup feature a trio of college signees, led by senior hurler Jaxon Pridgen, who is headed to Tennessee Tech.
Riverdale has averaged 6.17 runs in 45 games so far this season.
Staying in Murfreesboro, Bradley Pippen is going to Middle Tennessee State, while senior pitcher Camden Sholar is headed to Motlow State.
Posting the most win since the 2009 Top 5 State Tournament run, Cleveland claimed it first district crown in 15 years with some strong senior leadership and a trio of sophomore standouts.
Turning the program around in his initial season on Raider Drive, veteran Georgia head coach Brent Tucker has his squad in its first Sectional in 15 years.
Led by District 5 Player of the Year Mycah Jordan, the Raiders went 7-2 in league play during the regular season, plus swept through the tournament without a loss.
The Virginia Tech signee posted a .410 OBP, with a .313 BA and a .522 slugging percentage, plus a .932 OPS. Jordan laced a half dozen doubles, a trio of triples and four home runs in his 36 hits and 19 free passes.
Along with covering more ground in centerfield than anyone else in the area, the speedster was 23-for-23 on stolen basses, scored 34 times and drove in 24 runs.
Tusculum signee Cutter Womack is the most dangerous hitter in the Raider lineup, with a .514 OBP and a .337 BA.
The left-handed swinging right fielder/first baseman bats third and knocked five two-baggers and a round tripper in his 34 hits, swiped 31 bases. With a keen hitting eye, he also drew 38 free passes so far, completing the circuit 35 times and plating 19 RBI.
Senior RP/SS Jack McBrayer transferred over from East Hamilton last summer and has been a strong addition, batting clean up with a .477 OBP, .323 BA, with a trio of doubles in 30 hits.
He has driven in 28 teammates, plus circled the bases 21 times himself. Drawing 31 free passes, McBrayer has also swiped a dozen bases.
On the mound the right-hander is 5-2 with a save in 13 appearances, posting a 1.80 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. Opponents are hitting just .181 against him as he has 40 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched.
Tennessee Wesleyan signee Nolan Copeland has provided strong defense at second base and a good No. 2 bat with .418 OBP and a .278 average. In his 27 hits are five two-baggers and a triple, scoring 25 times and plating 13. He is perfect in 21 stolen base attempts.
Junior River Briggs has had a strong season with a .453 OBP, with a .290 BA. Also drawing 21 free passes, the outfielder has five doubles in his 18 hits, scoring 21 times.
Sophomore Caden Tippens has improved his catching abilities as the season has progress, plus is the team-leader with 10 doubles and a homer in his 27 hits. He also leads the squad with 31 RBI.
Senior Andrew Wenger has posted a .419 OBP with 20 hits and 28 "freebies," completing the circuit 20 times and driving in 18. Toeing the rubber he is 2-2 with opponents hitting just .126, posting a 1.96 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has 32 Ks in 25 IP.
Also on the mound, sophomore Christian Lee developed as the staff ace, going 5-1 in 11 appearances, with nine starts.
The lefty has a team-leading 1.06 ERA, with a 1.025 WHIP, plus has struck out 82 and given up just eight earned runs in 52.2 IP. He has handcuffed opponents for a .176 mark.
Also strong on the bump has been senior Tyler Gardner with a 6-0 record and a save. The righty has only tossed 33 innings, but has 37 Ks, with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.
Sophomore Collin Stuart has also helped on the mound, as well as at third base. He is 3-2 with a save on the hill, striking out 50 in just 25.1 IP. He has held opponents to team-low .124 average, while notching a 2.76 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.
At the dish, Stuart has a .416 OBP with four two-baggers and a round-tripper in his 17 hits, plating 13 teammates and circling the bases 19 times.
As a team, the Raiders are averaging just over six runs a game, hitting .265 with a .407 OBP, with 59 of their 240 hits going for extra bases. They has also stolen 138 bases at a 93.2 success rate.
Siegel is averaging 5.4 runs an outing in 41 games so far this season.
The Stars have made the state tournament three times in the last seven seasons, including winning it all in 2016.
