Riverdale baseball has pitching depth to endure state tournament

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Playing in the state baseball tournament can take its toll on any high school team's pitching staff.

Playing as many as six games in four days tests the depth and resolve of any team's staff, and that is usually what separates the state champions from the rest.

Given that, Riverdale coach Barry Messer should feel good heading into Spring Fling this week.

What sophomore middle reliever Daniel Dewey did in Friday's Class AAA sectional win over Soddy-Daisy typifies why the Warriors could have a big advantage this week in the event of a deep state tournament run.

Middle reliever Daniel Dewey leads Riverdale with a 0.68 ERA in 31 innings.

Dewey came in to Friday's sectional game in the third inning with the score tied at 4 and tossed three shutout innings, allowing just a hit, to earn the 10-4 win.

"In situations like that, you just have to stay confident," said Dewey, who leads Riverdale with a  0.68 ERA in 31 innings. "If you don't (stay confident), they'll just eat you up."

Messer didn't hesitate to go to the young Dewey in the crucial situation that ultimately saved the arms of his top starters.

"You know the old saying that sometimes they're too young to know the importance of the situation," Messer said. "I'm not saying that's the case with Daniel. He's been a rock steady guy all year. We've leaned on him in situations like (Friday night), and it doesn't faze him."

The Warriors (25-12) will play Bradley Central (22-14) in the first round of the Class AAA state baseball tournament at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Oakland.

Even in the best situation of staying in the winners bracket, a team has to win a minimum of four games to capture a state title.

TSSAA pitching rules state a pitcher must have one day of rest if he throws 26-55 pitches, two days of rest at 56-75, three days of rest at 76-105 and four days of rest at 106-120. A player is not allowed to throw more than 120 pitches in a game.

"I think you win the game you're playing," Messer said on the balancing act between pulling a pitcher in hopes of saving him for later in the tournament. "It stacks up in our favor, with our depth, to stick with that plan."

Riverdale enters the state tournament with a team ERA of 2.49 and five guys who have thrown at least 20 innings this season.

The team's top starters – Joey Mitchell (1.73), MTSU signee Brayden Siren (2.77) and Noah Herring (2.01) – have carried the Warriors to this point.

Messer had the luxury of having all three at his disposal in Friday's elimination sectional game, and he will have them all fresh going into Tuesday's game. Siren tossed just two innings and Mitchell one; Herring did not pitch.

Then there's the Warriors bullpen, led by Dewey and senior closer Peyton Fogle (1.27 ERA), who was the 7-AAA Reliever of the Year. The two have combined for 39 innings and eight saves.

Four more Warriors have tossed at least 10 innings with ERAs less than 3.00.

"It's great having all the pitchers we have," Dewey said. "Even the ones who haven't pitched a lot lately, we know they can step up."

Other teams in Riverdale's half of the AAA bracket include Arlington (18-16) and Independence (25-11). The top half consists of Summit (25-11), Science Hill (27-12), Bartlett (31-12) and Farragut (38-3).

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