Alan Walden To Tennessee; Hunter Adkins To MTSU
by John Hunt
posted November 12, 2008
) Photo by Red Bank Alan Walden and Hunter Adkins with Red Bank head coach Bumper Reese. |
These two seniors at Red Bank are both outstanding baseball players and both were rewarded for their hard work Wednesday morning.
They signed scholarship papers to continue their respective baseball careers at the next level.
Walden has committed to the Tennessee Vols while Adkins will be heading to Murfreesboro where he will be a member of the MTSU Blue Raider baseball program.
Walden was Red Bank’s ace last spring when the Lions compiled a 25-16 record while winning district and region titles.
He ended up with eight wins in 11 decisions.
His earned run average was 2.71 as he pitched 62 innings while allowing 24 earned runs on 63 hits. He also had 75 strikeouts while issuing 32 walks.
Adkins only pitched 40.2 innings and had a 4-1 record while allowing 30 earned runs on 48 hits.
He recorded 44 strikeouts while allowing 24 walks.
When he wasn’t pitching, he was anchoring a spot in the outfield and he ended up as Red Bank’s leading hitter with a .368 average.
Walden had been leaning toward the Big Orange for some time.
He had offers from a host of schools, including Kentucky, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, LSU, Louisville, Memphis, Virginia, Connecticut and Auburn, but none were able to change his mind after he made the final decision.
“I’m pumped up about it,” Walden, who will celebrate his 18th birthday next Tuesday, said while coaches, family members, teammates and others gathered for the big occasion.
“I don’t have that kind of stuff to worry about now. I can just go out and pitch and not be concerned about next year,” the son of Alan and Kelly Walden added.
Adkins is the 18-year-old son of Scott and Julie Adkins who is a three-year baseball letterman.
He had offers from Lipscomb, Kentucky, Samford and Austin Peay among others, but once he made an official visit to MTSU, his mind was pretty much made up.
“I’m real comfortable with my decision as I don’t have any doubts at all that MTSU is the place for me. Now I don’t have to worry about doing well and being stressed over people watching me play.
“Now we can just go out, play baseball and not worry about all those other details,” he added.
Walden played at Ooltewah for two years before transferring to Red Bank last year while Adkins has been a Lion starter for the last three years.
Jared Hensley is now the head coach at Soddy Daisy, but he had the opportunity to work with them both while serving as the Red Bank pitching coach.
He too was present for Wednesday’s event.
“These are two special young men who didn’t get to where they are by being lucky. I’m extremely proud of them. It will be tough facing them in the spring.
“I really enjoyed working with them. They both have good stuff and both have better-than-average fast balls. Alan locates his breaking ball well as he’s real smooth.
“Hunter is similar to Alan as he has that bulldog mentality. If he could pitch every day, he would,” Hensley praised.
Red Bank coach Bumper Reese is another one who is proud of their accomplishments.
“These are two great kids who are extremely deserving of all the stuff they’re getting. We won 25 games last year.
"Between Alan and Hunter, they won 12 of them. I’m just glad to have them back for one more year.
“Tyler Henry signed a Division I scholarship with Kentucky a couple of years ago. To have two from the same team is a real blessing.
“Alan’s biggest asset is his demeanor on the mound. He doesn’t let anything bother him. The bigger the game, the better he performs.
"He loves the pressure of an important game. He keeps his emotions in check as he’s all business while the game is going on.
“Hunter has been with us for three years and even got to pitch some when he was a freshman. He did a super job for us last year as he’s a competitor.
"He takes advantage of his height when he’s pitching as the ball gets to the plate in a hurry after he releases it.
“Hunter was also our leading hitter last year and has a very good bat, but he’ll be a pitcher at MTSU,” Reese added.
(Email John Hunt at tnmoose2002@aol.com)
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