Will Reed and Evan Petrie of the Community Vikings have been playing sports together since they were kids.

During their senior seasons, the teammates were starters on the basketball team that made an appearance in the TSSAA Class AA state tournament.

After basketball was over, they completed what they thought would be their final season together as teammates on the baseball team.

But the pair is not through playing together as they recently signed to play baseball with Roane State Community College.

Reed felt sure of his decision to attend Roane State, but it was a later decision for Petrie.

"I knew I wanted to play baseball at the next level, and the coach at Roane State was the first one to talk to me about it," Reed said. "As soon as I talked to him, I felt a connection and knew I wanted to go there."

"I was at first actually trying to work on some basketball at the JUCO level," Petrie said.

"Tuesday afternoon, I got a call from the coach and I already knew that Will was going there. I just figured it was a perfect place for me to go."

Reed and Petrie will have the advantage of having played with each other before their college careers start.

"It's a lot better. At least you know somebody on the team as soon as you get there," Reed said.

"We already have chemistry."

"It's definitely going to work out a whole lot more," Petrie said. "We're going to feel more comfortable around each other."

The time on the court and on the field has knitted Reed and Petrie together.

"We've been playing since kindergarten," Reed said.

"We were always on the same team every year," Petrie said. "Same positions. We've always been together."

Coach Robbie Davis, who coached Reed and Petrie in both basketball and baseball, had nothing but praise for the duo.

"Well-deserving. Two guys who put a lot of work in. Great teammates," Davis said.

"This is probably as close as any team I've ever had here as far as team first. And it all starts with those two guys and the other two seniors, Jackson Bailey and Jacob Cooper," Davis added.

"Their work ethic is what got them here, both in the classroom and on the field," Davis said.

"They're two-sport athletes, and very easily could have played basketball if they chose to."

"Roane State is getting two really good student-athletes," Davis added. "Good students, good parents, can't say enough about them."

The Viking and future Roane State teammates talked about their study plans.

"I haven't thought about that yet," Reed said.

"I'm going to be on a pre-med pathway to transfer to MTSU unless some other offer comes along the way," Petrie said. "My plan is pre-med, med school, and hopefully orthopedics."