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CHATTANOOGA —Henry Borthwick had three hits and Jacob Pealer drove in three runs to lead the Bucs over the Tigers.

Pealer also was the winning pitcher, going 4 1/3 innings. Brant Hare earned the save.

Michael Degennaro had four hits for the Bucs in an earlier 5-1 loss to Lookout Valley.
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BAILEYTON—University High pitcher Michael Degennaro achieved workhorse status on Tuesday.

Going the distance in a nine-inning contest, Degennaro racked up 13 strikeouts and finished with a five-hitter as the visiting Buccaneers got past North Greene 2-1 to clinch the Watauga Valley Conference baseball championship.

"Deg was spinning it well and keeping guys off balance in any count," said Bucs coach Josh Petty. "He threw an absolute gem today."

Degennaro plunked one batter, but issued no walks in a 110-pitch outing.

"I knew there was a lot of pressure, especially going into the extra innings," Degennaro said, "but I told myself remain calm and command the zone like I was in the early innings. I did not let doubts or fears take ahold of me and that ultimately led to our victory."

UH, which improved to 9-0 in conference play and 14-8 overall, prevailed on Esau Byrd's one-out, bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Brant Hare, who began the top of the ninth with a single, accounted for the tie-breaking run.

With the Bucs held to five hits by Cayden Foulks, stellar pitching was in full supply. Foulks, who absorbed the loss, was one out from a complete-game victory when Carter Pollock doubled in the seventh. Pollock advanced to third on a Byrd base hit, then scored on an infield error to make it 1-all on the scoreboard.

Foulks worked into the ninth, surrendering one earned run and totaling six Ks before giving way to Chance Campbell for the final three UH outs.

Brayden Garber batted 2 for 3 to pace North Greene's bats. Campbell was 2 for 4 as the Huskies dropped to 5-4, 15-7.

Degennaro accounted for a pair of sacrifices, with one coming in the ninth to advance Hare and Kaleb Meredith, who had been hit by a pitch, to third and second base, respectively. From there, Campbell intentionally walked Pollock.
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A battle for supremacy in the Watauga Valley Conference featured the Bucs banging out 12 hits against the Huskies.

Michael Degennaro went 3 for 4 with one RBI while Carter Pollock and Kaleb Meredith each went 2 for 4.

Meredith and Degennaro combined to surrender two North Greene hits and strike out 10 batters.

Kole Zirlke and Turner Bailey had the hits for North Greene.
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The Sullivan South baseball squad used timely hits to take a 3-0 win over University High Saturday.

"We responded early, but it's good to come back and get the win over a quality opponent. They have a chance to go down to Murfreesboro," Sullivan South head coach Anthony Richardson said about the win and University High. "They put the ball in play and we made the plays out there."

Said University High head coach Josh Petty: "We had several innings with runners in scoring position, just couldn't get the big hit. Their pitcher was throwing strikes and we were putting the ball in play and they made the plays."

Rebels Runs

Sullivan South got things started right when Drew Creech led the game off with a hit. His trip around the bases was completed as Cole Layne reached on an error by center fielder Kaleb Meredith.

The next inning the Rebels struck again as Eli Jennings started the inning with a single. He stole second while Jackson McGee was at the plate. McGee singled, but an error by Kaden Weir allowed Jennings to score the game's second run.

McGee led off the fourth with a double and later scored an insurance run.

Esau Byrd threw all seven innings for University High and scattered nine Rebel hits. He struck out a pair with a walk issued and hit a Rebel batter.

Bucs hits

University High had a rally attempt in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back walks to Byrd and Jacob Peeler brought up Carter Pollock, who singled to load the bases. The frame was closed out by the Rebels' Jeffrey Leonard, who struck out the next two batters. University High got runners to second base in both the fifth and seventh innings, but no further.

Leonard tossed a complete-game shutout for the Rebels. He scattered four hits and only struck out three Buc batters. Four walks were issued by Leonard.

"Leonard threw strikes," Richardson added. "I think maybe he threw five curveballs all game. Hopefully our other pitchers can learn from that."

Upcoming

Both teams have important league series starting Monday.

Sullivan South welcomes Johnson County. The Rebels are a game behind Sullivan East for second in the Three Rivers Conference, but only a game in front of Johnson County. University High has a game with North Greene.

The Bucs are a perfect 7-0 in the Watauga Valley as a win would secure the top seed for the District 1-A Tournament.

Other Games

Earlier in the day Sullivan South was upended by Sevier County 16-4. Sevier County also beat David Crockett 14-4.

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University High 10, Lee (Va.) 0

Brant Hare and Michael Degennaro combined on a five-inning, two-hit shutout of the Generals in the Bucs' late game Saturday.

Hare gave up a pair of singles and a pair of walks over three innings before Degennaro had three strikeouts over two no-hit innings.

Esau Byrd led the University High offense, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Carter Pollock drove in two runs.

ELIZABETHTON — The Bucs got a key Watagua Valley conference road win over the Rangers behind the arm of Kaleb Meredith, who limited Unaka to just five hits while striking out eight.

Carter Pollock went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and two RBI.

Alex Garcia finished with a pair of hits for Unaka while Harley Berry recorded the Rangers' only RBI.

Sullivan East 1

The Buccaneers struck for nine runs in the third inning and rolled to the surprisingly easy win at ETSU's Thomas Stadium.

Kaleb Meredith broke the 1-1 tie with a triple to get the big inning started.

Henry Borthwick had two hits and four RBIs to led UH at the plate. Brant Hare had two hits and three RBIs. Jacob Pealer drove in two and Meredith finished with two hits.

Michael Dengennaro went the distance on the mound, allowing three hits and one run with two strikeouts. The Bucs improved to 10-4 on the season.

KINGSPORT—With Henry Borthwick batting 3 for 3 with four RBIs, the Buccaneers cruised to a five-inning Watauga Valley conquest of Sullivan North.

Essau Byrd added three RBIs in a 1-for-3 showing and UH got three walks and a pair of runs from Jacob Pealer.

Going 1 for 3 with two runs and a walk, Brant Hare also pitched four innings for the win. Michael Degennaro closed the game with a scoreless fifth.
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The following article was printed in the Johnson City Press:


HIgh school baseball
University High shuts down Sullivan North
Jeff Birchfield • Updated Apr 1, 2019 at 11:44 PM
jbirchfield@johnsoncitypress.com

University High pitcher Kaleb Meredith was efficient and effective against Sullivan North on Monday night.

The left-hander threw 68 pitches over seven innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight in the Bucs' 5-1 win over the Golden Raiders in Watauga Valley Conference baseball action at Thomas Stadium.

In addition, the Bucs had eight hits of their own, coming up with the biggest ones with runners in scoring position.

"We came up with the timely hits which we hadn't been doing," University High coach Josh Petty said. "We've been getting runners on the base pads, but hadn't come up with the big hits."

Esau Byrd started it off with a RBI single to score Carter Pollock in the second inning.

North tied the game in the top of the third when Zach Scott doubled and Tyler DePriest followed with a RBI single.

University High pulled back ahead on Briley Townsend's RBI single in the fourth and added a run in the fifth off Michael Degennaro's sacrifice fly to score Meredith.

The final pair of runs came off Greer Barnett's RBI single and Jacob Peeler racing home after a wild pitch. Byrd and Peeler each scored two runs for the Bucs.

Brayden Wilhoit suffered the loss for Sullivan North, giving up just two earned runs over six innings. Wilhoit also doubled at the plate.

Congratulations to our High School Boys Baseball team for their many victories over Spring Break!

 Monday, March 25^th Johnson City Press Article

University High 4, Hayworth, Ill. 1

DAPHNE, Ala.—Cade Pollock and Michael Degenarro teamed for a one-hitter and 13 strikeouts, leading the Buccaneers to victory.

Pollock tallied five strikeouts over three hitless innings before Degenarro worked the final four frames, accumulating eight Ks.

Kaleb Meredith had a 2-for-2 game that included a double. Degenarro also did damage at the dish, going 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.

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University High baseball out-pacing the state

Douglas Fritz • Mar 25, 2019 at 6:14 PM
dfritz@johnsoncitypress.com

It’s not a comprehensive statistic because baseball games tend to go unreported, especially early in the spring, but University High entered this week leading the state in runs scored per game among all classifications.

Heading into Monday’s tournament at Orange Beach, Alabama, the Buccaneers had roughed up opposing teams for 105 runs in eight games. That’s an average of 13.5 per contest, which is two runs per game better than another pair of Class A teams: Monterey (11.4) and Trenton Peabody (11.2).

Michael Degennero, Carter Pollock, Henry Borthwick and Brant Hare have been the top run producers for UH, which is 7-1 on the season.

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UH, Science Hill notch non-conference home wins

Johnson City Press • Mar 22, 2019 at 11:10 PM

Brant Hare was 3 for 4 with a pair of runs, Michael Degennero and Carter Pollock each tallied three RBIs and University High subdued South Greene 9-1 on Friday at Thomas Stadium.

Recording six strikeouts over five shutout innings, Kaleb Meredith also batted 2 for 4 and knocked in a pair of runs.

Hare stamped his initials on two extra-base hits, producing a double and triple. Degennero fit a two-bagger into his 2-for-4, 2-run effort and Henry Borthwick accumulated four walks, three runs and two stolen bases.

Pollock also swiped a pair of bags.

The Rebels were limited to four hits, with Luke Myers and Brandon Smith collecting two apiece.

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Johnson City Press Article

University High 17, Hampton 5

HAMPTON—Zach Rice, Brant Hare and Carter Pollock combined for 11 RBIs and the Buccaneers drew 14 walks from Watauga Valley Conference foe Hampton.

Rice went 2 for 2 with four RBIs, adding three runs and a pair of walks. Hare, who had two runs and two bases on balls, hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the seventh inning. Pollock drove in three runs.

Henry Borthwick and winning pitcher Michael Degennero (3 innings) contributed two RBIs apiece. Borthwick also accounted for two runs, two walks and two stolen bases.

The Bulldogs were topped by Weston Street with a 2-for-3, 2-run output.

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Johnson City Press Article

University High 11, Hampton 2

Michael Degennero went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and the Bucs had 11 hits in their win over the Bulldogs.

Brant Hare went four innings to pick up the win and Esau Byrd threw the final three, striking out five.

Kaden Weir and Byrd also finished 2-for-4, while Hare, Henry Borthwick and JP Pealer all scored two runs.

Weston Street and Josh Owens each had two hits for Hampton. Freshman Morgan Lyons pitched four quality innings in his first varsity start.

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University High heads the Watauga Valley baseball pack

Douglas Fritz • Mar 17, 2019 at 5:57 PM
dfritz@johnsoncitypress.com

Coming off an appearance in the Class A state tournament and returning key players, University High is favored to win the Watauga Valley Conference title.

The Buccaneers’ biggest challengers should be Unaka, North Greene and Sullivan North — with Hampton also in the mix. Cloudland will have to scrap hard for league wins.

Watauga Valley Conference predictions

1. University High

2. Unaka

3. Sullivan North

4. North Greene

5. Hampton

6. Cloudland

UNIVERSITY HIGH

A solid three-deep starting rotation gives the Buccaneers an edge.

Carter Pollock (RH, Sr.), Brant Hare (LH, Jr.) and Kaleb Meredith (LH, So.) are all good arms. Esau Byrd (RH, Sr.) adds to the mix in relief.

At the plate, Pollock (2B), senior shortstop Michael Degennaro, and Hare (1B) will lead the way.

“Our goal this season is to replace six starters from last year’s team and set ourselves up for another trip to Murfreesboro,” said head coach Josh Petty. “I feel confident we have the players to step in and replace that talented bunch from last year.”

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High school roundup: UH turns back Providence Academy

Johnson City Press • Mar 14, 2019 at 10:48 PM

Greer Barnett totaled nine strikeouts over six innings, Essau Byrd batted 3 for 4 and University High beat Providence Academy 6-2 on Thursday in a non-conference baseball game.

Yielding a run in the first and sixth (unearned) innings, Barnett held the Knights to two hits before Kaden Weir worked a hitless seventh, striking out two batters.

Brant Hare and Briley Townsend were each 2 for 3 for the Bucs. A two-run double from Bare highlighted a four-run UH second — in which J.P. Pealer and Michael Degennero lofted sacrifice flies — that snapped a 1-1 tie.

The Knights’ Hunter Reid finished 2 for 3.

Brant Hare pitched the local high school baseball season's first no-hitter, leading University High to an 11-0 victory over Cloudland on Monday that concluded a doubleheader sweep at Thomas Stadium.

The Bucs won the opener, 25-2. Both games were shortened to five innings.

Hare had 10 strikeouts for UH. Kaden Weir, Briley Townsend, Michael Degennero and Carter Pollock each drove in a run in the Bucs' six-run fifth inning.

In the opener, Henry Borthwick tripled in each of his first two at-bats, driving in five runs with two swings, and Pollock struck out 10 batters in four innings.

Borthwick finished with three hits and six RBIs, while Greer Barnett went 5 for 5, drove in five runs and scored four times. Cade Pollack went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Esau Byrd scored five runs for UH.

Carter Pollock didn't allow a hit until the fifth and was pulled right after that. Cloudland helped the Bucs, committing nine errors. UH wound up with 18 hits.