HIGH SCHOOL

Riding the arms: Stewarts Creek baseball looks to big three in hopes of returning to state

Cecil Joyce
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Stewarts Creek's baseball team rode its pitching staff to a first-ever trip to the Class AAA state tournament last season.

The team's big three have the Red Hawks (20-7, 14-4 7-AAA) on the path for a return trip in 2017.

Austin Steel, Daniel Freeman and Maddox Vondohlen have combined to go 15-3 this season as Stewarts Creek currently sits in second place in the district behind Blackman (13-2).

"They've been great," said Stewarts Creek coach Mike Bartlett, whose squad completed a series sweep over La Vergne by taking both games of a doubleheader (11-1, 12-3).  He also gave credit to his pitching coach, former Major Leaguer Charlie Mitchell.

"I think I would quit if he did," Bartlett said. "I don't deal with pitchers. He has a great rapport with them."

All three of the Red Hawk hurlers have ERAs below 2.00.

For the second straight season, Steel has been not only the ace of the staff but also arguably the top pitcher in the league. The Freed-Hardeman signee allowed three runs in a win over La Vergne Wednesday as his ERA "ballooned" to 0.72.

Related

Steel (6-0) has allowed just 21 hits and six walks in 39.1 innings, striking out 43.

He said staff works off a confidence that they don't have to strike out every hitter they face.

"We've worked our tails off," Steel said. "We know if we throw strikes we have a great defense and we're going to get outs."

Freeman is 5-1 with a 1.00 ERA. The Columbia State signee has allowed 15 hits and 18 walks in 28 innings, striking out 26.

"We all know that pitching carried us last year," said Freeman, who belted two home runs during a doubleheader sweep over La Vergne on Thursday. "We've gotten better hitting this year. It makes us more relaxed."

Vondohlen, named after Major League Hall of Famer Greg Maddox, has a 1.86 ERA with 31 strikeouts and just four walks in 37.2 innings. He is 5-2 on the season.

"The other two guys are locked down," said Vondohlen. "We lost a lot of leaders last year, but we've had guys step up and fill their shoes."

Stewarts Creek’s Austin Steel fires a pitch earlier this season. Steel tossed a shutout in the Red Hawks' 10-0 win over La Vergne Sunday.

The TSSAA pitch count limit hasn't affected the group either.

"They're very efficient," said Bartlett. "We've only had to go get a pitcher in the third or fourth inning twice. It might affect us more in the postseason, but we have five guys (including Will Duffy, Brandon Rooney) that can come in and throw strikes."

There's still an outside chance Stewarts Creek could take first place and an automatic bid into the Region 4-AAA tourney. With the top half of the league so competitive, the Red Hawks will just keep grinding and rest on the big three on the mound.

"We've got to stay hungry and forget about last year," Vondohlen said.

Added Steel, "I hope it takes some pressure off our hitters. We feel like all we need is one run and take a lead and play solid defense."

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

Stewarts Creek’s Maddox Vondohlen (3) fires a pitch against La Vergne on Thursday.