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Tennessee HS Team Preview: Riverdale Warriors

February 12, 2025
Prep Baseball Tennessee Staff

The 2025 Tennessee high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at the state tournament championships – but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Riverdale High School
Head Coach: Barry Messer
TSSAA Classification: AAAA
District & Region: 8AAAA
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 38-11 (Sub State)

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ No. Returning Positional Starters: 5
+ No. Returning Pitchers: 6
+ Key Returners:

More Names to Know

2025s:

2026s:

TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

2025 OUTLOOK

+ The Riverdale Warriors went 38-11 in 2024 and made it all the way to the sectionals where they were put out by Bradley Central. Riverdale comes into 2025 with hopes of taking that next step and reaching the state tournament in Murfreesboro. They return 5 starters along with 6 pitchers from the 2024 team. 

The top returnee for Riverdale is 2024 district POY and University of Alabama Huntsville commit, 2025 C/OF Gunnar Waldrop. Waldrop is one of the best hitters in the state that has a knack for getting on base at a high clip while also hitting for power to all fields. Another top of the order guy will be Trevecca Nazarene University commit, 2025 MIF Bryce Messer. Messer is a two time all-district player and the definition of “scrappy” as he thrives in every facet of the game. Messer and Waldrop also provide tremendous leadership for a group that has seen success in all 4 years of their tenure at Riverdale. Other seniors that will be key contributors are 2025 RHP Nick Currey, DH/OF Paul Pitmon, Motlow St commit LHP Grant Smotherman and UT Southern OF AJ Ganzer. 

The 2026 class is led by 1B/P Liam Goodhart who is a two year starter and two time all-district selection. Goodhart will man the first base position while also providing important innings on the mound. Other juniors that look to be contributors will be utility players in Davis Wilson and James Jones. In the 2027 class, Jay Insani should be an immediate impact bat and provide innings behind the plate and on the mound. Insani just finished up as a big standout at the Prep Baseball TN Preseason All-State. Insani showcased a 97 exit velocity, 1.9 pop time, and topping 87 mph on the mound. He will be one to watch this spring. RHP Landon Byrd is another 2027 that will provide innings on the mound for Riverdale. 

Coach Barry Messer has high hopes for this veteran team and thinks that his group will rely on defense as they return an experienced infield as it returns all but one starter. This should also translate to an experienced lineup that knows how to manufacture runs. Look for Riverdale to

once again be in the discussion to make it to Murfreesboro in May.

Find more information on Riverdale’s 2025 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @rdalebaseball
+ Find more 2025 team previews on our TSSAA Season Preview page

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+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on X
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