University High secures eighth-straight trip to state tournament

ELIZABETHTON — "Not four. Not five. Not six. Not seven." Words originally said by LeBron James proclaiming how many championships his Miami Heat would win, the once facetious statement now rings true for University High after clinching a spot in its eighth state tournament in a row on Friday evening. It wasn't easy, but the Buccaneers found a way to win Game 3 of the Class 1A Sectional, beating Greenback 9-8. "We have a lot to live up to with the teams in front of us," University High skipper Pat Ryder said. "We still have work to do. But I do want to say: hats off to Greenback. They gave us the fight of our lives. Fight of the season for us. Their guys played out of their minds. It was a toss-up. Really just amazing." The Bucs (25-15) fell behind early in the winner-take-all Game 3, surrendering three runs in the top of the first. However, they were able to answer with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Both Braeden Brothers and Cole Stevenson hit run-scoring singles in the frame to bring the Bucs within a run. Greenback (21-16) got back up by two when Charlie Hall hit an RBI groundout. But, the Bucs answered with an RBI groundout of their own in the bottom half of the frame. University High then grabbed its first lead of the game the next two frames, scoring twice in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Hugh Landry scored on a wild pitch then Knox Poston stole home after a pop out. "I saw the shortstop catch it," Poston said. "They threw it back to the pitcher. There were two outs. He took his hat off and took his glove off to try and reset. And as soon as I saw him take his glove off, I just bolted home. He just fumbled with it and I stole home." In the sixth, Anthony Margotta roped an RBI double and Landry singled home one. However, the Cherokees fought back in the top of the seventh with four runs, three with two outs. Grant Gentry won the game for the Bucs in the bottom half of the inning, when he stole third base and scored on a throwing error. He reached base on a two-out single and stole second before trying for third. "Anything I can do to help out the team, I'm going to do it," Gentry said. "I get on and I trust all of my guys, but maybe they aren't going to have a great at-bat or maybe something is going to happen. So I'm doing everything I can to put myself in the bets position for our team. Tonight, it worked out." Game 2 of 3: Greenback 4, University High 3 The Bucs entered the day just needing one win to head back to Murfreesboro following a 10-0 win in Game 1 of the series, but the Cherokees were able to rally late in Game 2 to force a winner-take-all Game 3. University High grabbed an early lead in the first inning after Braeden Brothers scored on a Greenback error and Hugh Landry hit an RBI single into left field. It then tacked on another run in the third on another Cherokees miscue that allowed Cole Stevenson to come home. The three runs of support appeared to be enough for Knox Poston on the mound, who was cruising until the fifth, when he allowed the first two batters of the inning to reach via a walk. Greenback was able to cash in after an attempt to turn a double play resulted in a throwing error, allowing Raylan Long to score from second base. A second Buccaneer error, a fielding one this time, allowed Kolden Williams to score with two outs. The Bucs had a chance to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as Grant Gentry reached third base with two outs. However, he was left stranded. It proved costly, as four straight Cherokees hitters reached base following a strikeout. Lucas Clifford hit an RBI single into right field to tie the game, then Cooper Holt singled to center on the very next pitch to win the game. Up Next The Class 1A state tournament will begin on Tuesday in Murfreesboro.