University High opens Class 1A bracket with win over Dresden

ROCKVALE — In a rematch of the 1987 Class A state championship, it was University High getting decades old revenge on Tuesday. The Bucs took advantage of costly Dresden errors to open Spring Fling with a 7-0 win. "We talked a lot about burning the boats, so to speak," Buccaneers head coach Pat Ryder said. "This was the game we had to have. With a lot of weather coming, who knows what is going to happen in the days going forward? We talked all day and yesterday about winning this game. This is the first game, this is the last game, now we go to the next game." University High (26-15) first struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, when both Hugh Landry and Knox Poston came home on a Dresden throwing error, trying to get Topher Hare out on a sacrifice bunt. The Bucs looked to add on the fourth, putting runners on second and third. Jacob Williams was up and attempted a suicide squeeze, where Poston tried to steal home with Williams tasked to get a bunt down. However, Williams pulled the bunt back, forcing Poston into a rundown. UH caught a break, though, as Dresden (17-14) catcher Rylan Davis saw his throw go into left field, allowing both Poston and Hare to score. "We made a few mistakes," Ryder said. "But the doctrine for us is, if we're going to back a mistake, we do it fast, aggressive and at the next base. If we mess up, we're going to mess up trying to take a base, fast and hard no matter what happens." University High added on three more runs in the sixth. Grant Gentry hit a sacrifice fly, Braeden Brothers singled home a run, and Mason Francis scored on a balk. Seven runs proved to be plenty of run support for the Bucs' pitching staff. Cole Stevenson got the start, going four innings and giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out a pair. He also only threw 55 pitches, according to the official TSSAA scorebook, allowing him to be able to return as soon as Thursday. Freshman Mason Greene picked up the bulk of the work of the bullpen. He scattered just two hits across 2 ⅔ innings. "In the sectionals, he came in and gave up a couple of hits, but this guy is nails," Ryder said. "He's a freshman and he throws out of his mind. He's awesome. He came in there, and after he had some trouble in the last game, I told him, 'I'm going to put you back in there in a state position to win a game.' He was amazing. I will put him in at any time." Also according to the TSSAA book, Brothers, Francis, and Hare all had multi-hit games at the plate. Hare went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Up Next University High will move on to winners' bracket play on Wednesday.