Sectional trip is three years in the making for Riverdale baseball

Riverdale baseball coach Barry Messer said his team's maturity and even disposition exemplify the team's identity this season.

It's that maturity that has the Warriors on the verge of returning to the Class AAA state baseball tournament for the first time since 2014.

"We've been composed in certain situations," said Messer, whose team will play host to Soddy-Daisy at 6 p.m. Friday in a Class AAA sectional game. The winner advances to next week's state tournament.

"We've been able to handle games when we've been up, and we've been able to handle games when we're down. It could all go to pot in one game, but up until now we've been able to handle those situations. We've leaned on that."

The 2019 Riverdale squad (24-12) has been three years in the making, with several of the senior Warriors having been starters or key players since their sophomore seasons.

After finishing third in 7-AAA in the regular season, the Warriors have peaked, not losing a postseason game, outscoring opponents 42-6 during that stretch. Riverdale defeated region foes Shelbyville (8-0) and Lincoln County (3-2) to earn the home sectional game.

"We've been loose since the district tournament started," said Riverdale senior shortstop Paxton Hughes, who is hitting .318 with six doubles, a home run and 24 RBIs. "We decided to relax a bit. Late in the season we played tight and didn't have the success we wanted. (Monday's Region 4-AAA semifinal) was win or go home, and we relaxed and took care of business."

Messer thinks that loose atmosphere has been a huge key to the playoff run but was glad to see the team fight through a one-run region finals.

"In the postseason we've found a way," Messer said. "We've had some good starts (from pitchers). I told (Riverdale sports information director David) Limbaugh that if I could have scripted (Wednesday's) game, we would win 3-2 in a tight game.

"We hadn't had a tight game in a week and a half. It's not that the opponents haven't been good. We just hadn't had a close game. But I didn't want to go into Friday in a tight game and us not knowing how to respond."

Riverdale went to consecutive state tournaments in 2012-14 but hadn't gotten out of the region since 2015 or district since 2016. Messer said every senior group he has been part of in his 20 years at Riverdale had enjoyed at least a district championship during its run.

This group didn't disappoint, but has bigger goals in mind.

"It's been really rewarding," said Riverdale's Peyton Fogle, who was named district reliever of the year and also is hitting .324 with a homer, 12 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. "Since our sophomore year we've all been playing together. Obviously we haven't been here before, but playing so well together and getting here is an accomplishment."

Added Hughes, "Early experience really helped us. Four or five of us have been in the starting lineup for two or three years now. The family bond has been there."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.