MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Legendary high school baseball coach Buddy Powers passed away on Monday (August 4th), at the age of 63 following a battle with cancer.

Powers built a reputation for excellence across Rutherford County sports, claiming nearly 400 high school coaching victories.

He ran the Riverdale High School dugout for 16 seasons across the 1990s and 2000s, generating a 314-168 record prior to stepping down after the 2007 campaign. During his time with the Warriors, his teams earned six district championships, three region titles, and recorded an undefeated 4-0 record in sectional play. Powers steered Riverdale to TSSAA state tournament berths in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006. The 2001 trip represented the initial state appearance in program history. Between 2001 and 2006, his rosters captured six straight District 7-AAA regular season or tournament crowns. More than 50 of his former Warriors players moved on to collegiate or professional ranks. His sons, Trice (2006 graduate) and Johnny (2019 graduate), were also standout players for Riverdale High School.

Following his tenure at Riverdale High School, Powers created the baseball program at Central Magnet School and turned it into a statewide contender immediately. He led the Tigers to a 79-42 record in District 8-AA and consecutive TSSAA Class AA state tournament trips in 2013 and 2014 during the school's first three varsity campaigns. Central Magnet School reached the Class AA Final Four during Spring Fling and earned two straight District 8-AA tournament titles.

Additionally, Powers worked as a Major League Baseball scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates and created the Warrior Classic, a tournament that brings high school baseball teams to Murfreesboro every year.

Siegel High School head coach Craig Reavis, who previously led the La Vergne High School baseball program, shared his thoughts on facing Powers over the years. "Just great memories of going against his Riverdale teams from all the way back to when I was at La Vergne," Reavis said. "I always knew you were in for a battle. The energy he had always was recognizable in the way his teams played. He started the Warrior Classic and what a legacy that is, amazing the teams and players who have come through Murfreesboro to play in that tournament. He is definitely a man that made his stamp on Rutherford County high school baseball and is a big reason for the success of high school baseball in this county and Mid-State."