Former Red Bank High School pitchers Alan Walden and Jeremy Bales are reuniting as Chattanooga State baseball transfers for 2010-11, and four freshman pitchers are joining them. Those are Blake Davenport and Tripp White from LaFayette, Dylan Massengill from Southeast Whitfield and Chad Kirby from the Chattanooga Patriots home-school program.
After a stress fracture cost him almost all of his senior season at Red Bank, Walden made 15 appearances totaling 15 1/3 innings for Tennessee, giving up 20 hits with nine strikeouts. He said he didn’t get enough work or teaching with the Volunteers.
“Just trying to relearn how to pitch again was the big thing, and pretty much I was having to teach myself,” he said Wednesday.
He allowed two and one hit in recent back-to-back five-inning outings for the Tennessee Styx, who also include Bales. They previously were together with the summer team coached by Chattanooga State assistant Joe Wingate.
“Joe got a call from another coach saying Alan was leaving UT, and it all fell together for us,” Tigers coach Greg Dennis said. “He’s a nice pickup for us, and it should be a good move for him, getting a chance to make a difference right away.”
Bales transferred from Cleveland State in the Tigers’ league. He had a 0.87 ERA for the Cougars but pitched only eight times totaling 10 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits.
“I really like the Cleveland State program and all the coaches,” Bales said, “but (Tigers assistant) Robert Long pitched submarine (style) in the pros, which is how I throw. I think he’ll be able to help me. I like Coach Dennis, too, and it’s a good program and even closer to home.”
Bales and Walden are close friends, which adds to their anticipation, both said.
White “had a really good year” for LaFayette while Davenport sat out following elbow-ligament replacement surgery, Dennis said.
“Both are really solid guys who can compete right away, if Blake comes back like we think we can,” Dennis added. “Dylan was a good pitcher on a not-so-good team, but he’s 6-foot-4 or so with a mid-80s fastball and a good breaking ball. And Kirby’s been in our fall league the last two years and did really well for (Patriots coach) Greg Payne this year. This is going to be a big jump for him, but he’s got the ability.”