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University School Baseball
Coach: Mr. Josh Petty
2012-2013 Team
2012-2013 Seniors
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Congratulations to Conner Bartow and Zak Vicars for making the All-Conference Baseball Team!!!! Love our Athletic Bucs!
Congratulations to our Awesome Boys Baseball team on a great season and for a tremendous effort in the final of the District 1-A baseball tournament!
Junior Bucs lose despite no-hitter
Published May 10, 2013
By staff reports
Despite a pair of University High pitchers combining for a no-hitter, the Junior Bucs lost 1-0 to Unaka in the losers' bracket final of the District 1-A baseball tournament at Cannon-Gouge Park.
University High, which lost earlier 13-3 to North Greene in a winners' bracket final, ends its season at 13-10. The Rangers (14-11) and Huskies (19-3) will play at 2 p.m. today in a championship game with an if necessary game scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Connor Bartow pitched six innings of no-hit baseball for University High before Justin Wiseman took over for the final 11⁄3 innings. Wiseman suffered the loss after Taylor Edwards led off the eighth inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hardin.
After Edwards moved to third on a wild pitch, University High foiled Unaka's squeeze attempt to score. However, on the next pitch, Jeffrey Yerkes hit a ground ball to short, which allowed pinch runner Andrew Long to score from second base.
For Unaka, sophomore Jonathan Wright threw five scoreless, allowing just a pair of infield singles. He struck seven batters before giving way to Thomas Hardin, who followed with two scoreless innings before Danny Bales came in to pick up the win.
The Junior Bucs missed an opportunity with bases loaded in the top of the eighth. Zac Vicars hit a hard-hit ball, but Hardin was able to knock down the ball to get the out and end the threat.
Bartow nearly perfect in UH sweep
University High senior Calen Archer slides home
behind Mitchell County’s catcher as the Junior Bucs swept a doubleheader in Wednesday’s Senior Night at Thomas Stadium. UH senior Connor Bartow pitched a five-inning no-hitter for the 5-0 victory the opener and went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the 8-6 win in the nightcap.
University High senior Connor Bartow was nearly perfect
on Senior Night at Thomas Stadium. Bartow (7-3) pitched a five-inning no-hitter and was within a two-out walk of a perfect game in the opener, a 5-0 Junior Bucs victory, of a doubleheader sweep.
“He was getting his breaking stuff and his slider over and down and away,” UH coach Josh Petty said, “and he made it tough for them to hit. His slider was working pretty well tonight. It was Senior Night and a good all-around performance. Everybody contributed.”
Bartow finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 at the plate. He was 2-for-2 with two runs in game one and went 3-for-4 with two runs in the nightcap, which UH won 8-6 in eight innings.
Marshall Hurley got the victory in game two. He helped his cause by going 2-for-4 with two runs. Conner Moore was 3-for-4, Andy Hardin was 2-for-3 and Zac Vicars went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs in the eight-inning victory.
Justin Wiseman was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Vicars doubled and scored twice in the opener.
The Junior Bucs (12-8) open District 1-A play against Unaka on Monday at 7:15 p.m. at Happy Valley.
© 2013 Johnson City Press - All Rights Reserved
University High expects to challenge
Published March 28, 2013
By
Douglas Fritz
-
Press Sports Writer
University High's baseball team is off to a really fast start, but the Watauga Valley Conference figures to be an interesting race to the finish.
The Junior Bucs won their first five games of the season, and have a senior-dominated team. They will certainly be a factor in the title chase.
However, North Greene is coming off a state tournament appearance and returns its ace pitcher.
Unaka has tradition, Hampton has more experience than usual, and Cloudland should be competitive when Roan Mountain thaws.
Here's a look at each team:
University High
Head coach Josh Petty said he doesn't have to rely on just one pitcher for a big game because of depth on the mound.
The four-seniors staff is led by Connor Bartow and Justin Wiseman while Marshall Hurley and Zak Vicars are also in the mix.
“I feel real comfortable running any of them out there in most situations,” said Petty. “And Connor and Justin have been a good one-two punch.”
At the plate, the Junior Bucs have a lineup that fits neatly into slots.
“We have a prototypical top five in our lineup,” said Petty.
Leading off is Bartow, who plays shortstop when he's not pitching. He gets on base, and knows how to run the bases, said Petty.
Bartow is followed by catcher Andy Hardin while Vicars (3b) hits in the No. 3 spot. Wiseman (1b) is the cleanup hitter while Hurley (cf) bats fifth.
Rounding out the lineup are Nick Sewell (2b, ss, So.), Logan Metcalf (of, So.), Ben Jackson (u, Jr.) and Jackson Colvett (of, Sr.).
Overall, Petty said he likes what he sees from his team.
“We are very senior-laden with a lot of experience,” he said. “The kids are enthusiastic, and they've set the bar pretty high for themselves."
© 2013 Johnson City Press - All Rights Reserved
Petty returns to coaching for Jr. Bucs
Published March 16, 2013
By
Douglas Fritz
-
Press Sports Writer
Josh Petty made three major adjustments this spring, and there’s nothing like a 3-0 start to help ease the transition.
After a six-year absence, Petty returned to being a coach at University High. He also switched sports from softball to baseball. Also, he changed from coaching girls to coaching boys.
Petty said when he was first approached about taking over the Junior Bucs’ baseball program, he was a little hesitant.
“It wasn’t because of coaching baseball instead of softball, but because of the time it takes,” said Petty, who is 37 years old. “I was a little bit nervous in terms of time. But I’ve gotten support from home, support from my parents, and also support from ETSU.
“The new athletic director and (Buccaneers’ baseball coach) Tony Skole allowed us to schedule seven home games at Thomas Stadium. That added to the excitement of it.”
Petty took over the duties from Joe Borden, who led the Junior Bucs’ program for 15 years.
“He did a good job, and he’s a man of high character and morals,” said Petty. “He elected to retire from coaching.”
University High’s softball program soared under Petty, winning 20 games or more six times in his seven seasons. They consistently reached the sectional round, and made it to the Class A state tournament in 2005 and 2007.
But Petty had baseball experience, too. He started coaching Little League when he was at Ooltewah High School. And while he was at ETSU, he was an assistant baseball coach with Borden at University High.
One thing that helped Petty’s return was inheriting a really nice situation with the Junior Bucs.
“It’s a great group of kids,” said Petty. “They have senior leadership, and I’ve been more like a manager instead of a coach. They’ve responded to it.”
UH defeated three Class AA schools: Happy Valley, Sullivan North and Johnson County. And in the course of one of those games, Petty said he learned a big difference between softball and baseball.
“We were playing Sullivan North and we got down 5-0,” said Petty. “We were like the Bad News Bears. We were kicking it around, and the pitchers were walking people. In softball if that happens the game is over if the other team has a dominant pitcher.”
However, Petty’s team settled in, made a comeback, and eventually earned an 8-5 victory.
Another thing Petty said he likes about baseball are the managing aspects.
“You can’t ride one horse, and throw him for 20 games,” said Petty. “You’re counting pitches, and there’s more accountability in the dugout. You have to decide when to warm up a kid in the bullpen.”
Petty said the 2-1 win over Johnson County was especially important for his team.
“They made it to the (Class AA sectional) last year,” said Petty. “I told the kids in the dugout, ‘Even though they didn’t throw their No. 1, we only gave up one run. If it had been 10-8, people might have said it would have been different if they were throwing their No. 1. But they can’t say that if we only give up one run.’ ”
Petty said he will approach the baseball season with the same type of goal he had for his softball teams.
“We have eight or nine seniors, and anything less than a berth in the (sectional), with a chance to go to the state — not putting pressure on, and I wouldn’t say disappointment if we don’t — but I think the expectations are to get to that point,” said Petty. “The first goal is to win the district, and that will be tough. North Greene made the state last year, and Unaka has everybody back, and Hampton has everybody back.”
Overall, Petty said he’s simply having fun.
“I’m having a blast,” he said. “And it’s all because of the kids on the team.
“I also want to say I appreciate my coaches: Ryne Heaton, Chris Walley and Rayne Price. Those guys have made the transition much more comfortable.”
© 2013 Johnson City Press - All Rights Reserved
