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Mitchell ready when lights come on





Former Riverdale pitcher Joey Mitchell, who played the last two seasons at Walters State, recently signed at Lipscomb. WALTERS STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Former Riverdale pitcher Joey Mitchell, who played the last two seasons at Walters State, recently signed at Lipscomb. WALTERS STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Former Riverdale Warrior pitcher Joey Mitchell just completed an outstanding two years of college ball at Walters State in Morristown by playing in the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Two recent Warriors, Cade Hitson and William Wexler, will attempt to follow in Mitchell’s footsteps and play in the JUCO World Series as well.

Under head coach Dave Shelton, the Senators are one of the most successful college programs in Tennessee with four straight appearances in the JUCO World Series and 11 overall, and they once reached the mountaintop in 2006.

Walters State also has won four straight Region VII titles and four straight district titles as the district crown has propelled them to Colorado.

The last two seasons the team has won 60-plus games while losing only seven each season, and Mitchell has been a big part of it.

During his career at Walters State, Mitchell was 9-2 with three saves in 35 appearances.

In 2022, the Senators finished third in the World Series, losing to both finalists Central Arizona and Cowley County. Central Arizona won the title for the second time in the last three seasons.

Mitchell will now head to Lipscomb to finish out his collegiate career and be able to play in front of friends and family.

He visited Tennessee Tech and East Tennessee State and looked at Carson-Newman and other Division II schools out of state, but after he visited Lipscomb, he knew it was the place for him and committed to play for the Bison.

Mitchell says playing at Riverdale prepared him for the next level as he entered his sophomore season with the Warriors.

“I remember Coach Barry Messer telling me I was going to be the opening-day starter in 2018 against Oakland,” Mitchell said. “That day I pitched a three- or four-hit shutout, and here I was a 5-9 140-pound lefty and I was nervous going into that game, but I knew I had to trust my stuff and get the job done, and it was a huge step for me.”

In 2019, Riverdale made Spring Fling, and Mitchell said it was another thrill for him pitching in the state tournament.

“I remember I pitched a one-hitter and we lost to Bradley Central 2-1, and then had to play them again in the semifinals and lost and were eliminated from the tournament,” Mitchell recalled.

Mitchell also noted other Riverdale supporters made an impact on him before he graduated.

“Mr. (David) Limbaugh is a light to the Riverdale baseball program,” he said. “The players and parents love him. He always says to have a good day. We were sitting in the press box one day and the coaches were giving him grief for packing up his stuff and going to Smyrna one year to help them out, but he came back to Riverdale as it is home. He is a big part of the Riverdale community.”

Mitchell said when headed to play at Walters State he knew what the expectations were, and in his freshman year he had to learn to grow up and be responsible for things besides athletics.

“I had to learn time management. I remember my first semester of my freshman year that I had a class assignment that I didn’t turn in on time, and Coach Shelton found out about it, and he said this is real life and he was not going to stand for it,” Mitchell said. “I was nearly four hours away from my parents, and I had to grow up and be a man and I learned to be on time in class, practice and games.”

Mitchell says the 2022 season was a thrill for him as the team made another World Series appearance. One of his biggest memories was playing in the district playoffs against Georgia Highlands in the final game when he had to head to the bullpen to get ready.

“We had a five- or six-run lead and I remember it was two outs and they had the bases loaded,” he said. “Our pitching coach called three straight sliders, and I threw three straight sliders and the batter swung and missed every one of them.

“Then I remember the guys pouring out of the dugout and I am 5-feet-11, 6-feet and 165 pounds, and I am on the bottom of the dog pile with 250-pound guys on top of me. It was a real thrill.”

Shelton said is looking forward to following Mitchell’s career at Lipscomb and is confident he will be successful.

“He has a good change up, breaking ball and fastball that he can command as he was clocked at the World Series, throwing 86, 87, and other guys were throwing 93-94,” Shelton said. “But Joey Mitchell can command the ball. Coming from a program like Riverdale, he was always ready when the lights were turned on.”

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