Riverside's 3 seniors quickly switch attention from baseball title game to graduation

MURFREESBORO — While the afternoon didn't go the way that the Riverside baseball team wanted it to, the three seniors for the Panthers planned to end the day on a high note.

After falling to Greeneville 11-0 in the Class AA state championship game, Riverside's three seniors — Owen Bartholomew, Raleigh Odle and Spencer Odle — quickly had to drive back to receive their diplomas.

The game ended in Murfreesboro around 4:30 p.m., and graduation was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in Decaturville, 132 miles away from Reese Smith Jr. Field.

"I might have a few minutes to shower," Bartholomew said with a laugh.

While the loss was hard for all three, they each left their mark on this program.

"It is good to know that we are finishing both baseball and high school tonight," Bartholomew said. "I would like to think that academics are a little more important than sports. The coaches here were good about working around your academic schedule. This team had a good run though."

Raleigh Odle transferred in over the summer after moving in with his father and became the ace pitcher on the staff to lead the Panthers to the title game for the first time since 2012.

MORE: Riverside's Raleigh Odle ends career at same place as mentor

Bartholomew ended his career on a high note, going 7-for-12 at the state tournament with an RBI and a run.

Spencer Odle left an example of how the shortstop position should be played and how to be a leader.

"God is good, and He is good all of the time," Riverside coach Erric Quinn said. "Our seniors have done their part all season. The last one always hurts, and it is easy to get caught up in this one. We have nothing to slump our shoulders about."

All three pitched in the three games leading up to the state championship game to help the Panthers get to that final game.

And that is what Bartholomew said he was going to remember on the trip back home to get ready for graduation.

"We will focus on the first three games because there were lots of positives there," Bartholomew said. "I haven't been hitting as good this year as I did my junior year, but I made it a point to finish strong, so 7-for-12 in the state tournament is pretty good."

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.