Coach: Mr. Josh Petty
Assistant Coaches: Johnny Bolton, Logan Brown, Garren Jackson
High School Boys Baseball Webpage
Congratulations to our wonderful UH Baseball team for a great season, which came to
an end after a win, then loss yesterday in the State Tournament. The following articles
were printed in the Johnson City Press:
Bucs pick up first state win since 1992
Tanner Cook
May 26, 2021
MURFREESBORO — The last time University High won a game in the state baseball tournament,
none of the players were born.
No one on the coaching staff except for Josh Petty was alive, either.
The Bucs — thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Miles Bembry that scored Jesse Greene
— secured the program’s first win since 1992 on Wednesday with a 5-4 victory over
Lake County in the losers’ bracket semifinals at Riverdale’s Jones Field.
“I’m just going up there taking the right pitches and swinging at the right ones,”
Bembry said. “In that situation, you want to be very selective, especially with no
outs.”
“I was talking about it with my assistant coach (Johnny) Bolton and we decided to
take until you get a strike,” Petty said. “Earlier, we saw some of their relievers
warming up and they couldn’t find the strike zone.”
The Bucs (23-14) were eliminated later in the day with a 11-1 loss to Summertown in
the losers’ bracket final. Summertown will face East Robertson in the upper-bracket
championship round Thursday.
Lake County (30-8) got two runs in the top of the eighth thanks to a monstrous two-run
home run by lead-off hitter Justin Morgan.
However, UH fought back in the home half of the eighth.
As Lake County relief pitcher Braden Johnson was having a tough time finding the strike
zone, two of the first three hitters for UH reached on walks.
Joseph Kent drove in one with a bloop single to center field and Connor Horton drew
a bases-loaded walk to tie the game.
“We always talk about not getting too high or too low and today was an example of
that,” Petty said. “We were screaming one minute when we tied the game and the next
minute, they hit a two-run homer.”
UH senior and Tennessee signee Kaleb Meredith earned the hard-fought win, tossing
a complete game with 100 pitches and seven strikeouts.
“This win means a lot,” Bembry said. “My brother and his group came down here and
they could not win a game. This one is for all of the ones that came before us and
couldn’t get a win.”
Hank Stott and Kent both went 2-for-4 and Kent tallied two RBI on the day.
“I’m not a big numbers or records guy, but I was curious about the last time UH won a game in the state,” Petty said.
“It’s nice because we’ve come down three years in a row and we finally got a win.”
Summertown 11, University High 1
Jesse Greene homered on a fly ball to left field in the second inning as the Bucs
pulled within a 2-1 deficit.
The Eagles came back with three runs in the third inning and scored six in the sixth
to put an early end to the game.
Kent had two hits for UH, while Meredith, Connor Horton and Bembry accounted for the
other hits.
=====================================================
Summertown rocks UH in state's opening round
Tanner Cook
May 25, 2021
University High pitcher Kaleb Meredith took the loss Tuesday against Summertown, giving
up six runs on five hits in just two-thirds of an inning.
Tanner Cook
MURFREESBORO — A barrage of extra-base hits led to Summertown’s 10-0 opening-round
win over University High in Tuesday’s Class A state baseball tournament action at
Riverdale’s Jones Field.
The Eagles (29-8) peppered UH starting pitcher Kaleb Meredith in the first inning,
scoring five runs on six hits. Meredith, a Tennessee signee, only lasted two-thirds
of an inning and threw 24 pitches.
“(Summertown) hit the ball hard and they hit a lot of gappers,” UH coach Josh Petty
said. “They had a really good plate approach and they’re an all-around really good
team.”
The heart of the Eagles’ lineup in Grant and Lane Burleson was particularly frustrating
for the Bucs’ pitching. The deadly 1-2 combo combined to go 4 for 6 on the day, highlighted
by back-to-back solo home runs in the second.
Grant Burleson drove in three runs while Lane accounted for two RBIs. Overall, the
Eagles amassed 11 hits and saw four UH pitchers.
Even though his ace starter Meredith was roughed up, every pitcher will be available
to Petty in an elimination game against Lake County on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
“We held everybody under 25 pitches and we have to play it like we’re going to win
another four games tomorrow,” he said.
Summertown pitcher Gavin Burleson picked up the win, going five innings, throwing
53 pitches and allowing just three hits.
His variety of low-80s on a fastball along with a good mixture of low-60s for a curveball
kept the Bucs off balance all afternoon.
“He threw the ball around 80 and then he had a little looping curveball that got our
guys off-balance,” Petty said. “He’s a really good pitcher.”
The Bucs (22-14) hit the ball solidly, but it was right at Summertown fielders.
Eagles first baseman Grant Burleson notably made two line-drive grabs that looked
to be above his reach.
“We can’t get emotional about it,” Petty said of the outcome. “We have to come and get a win.”
UH Baseball Team Advances to State
Congratulations to our UH Baseball Team for advancing to the State Tournament! The
following article and team photo were printed in the Johnson City Press:
UH whips Tellico Plains, advances to state
Tanner Cook
May 21, 2021
There’s an old saying that bad luck comes in threes, but that number seemed to be
a lucky one for the University High baseball team on Friday at David Crockett’s Sonny
Miller Park.
The Bucs (22-13) clinched a third straight trip to the state tournament with a 9-0
win over Tellico Plains in Class A sectional play.
UH senior pitcher and Tennessee signee Kaleb Meredith went the distance to earn the
win, scattering three hits while striking out seven.
He threw 86 pitches, 63 of which were strikes.
The Bears (23-8) could not catch up to Meredith’s fastball all night as all three
hits were ground balls that got through up the middle.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” UH coach Josh Petty said. “We’ve worked hard all
year and we’ve played some tough competition.
“This was the best I’ve seen Kaleb’s secondary stuff in a few games. They really couldn’t
catch up to his fastball, so he relied on it most of the game.”
UH could not solve Tellico pitcher Cade Scoggins in the first three innings, but roughed
him up in the fourth. Hank Stott and Jesse Greene reached on singles and eventually
scored.
Scoggins was relieved by Ethan Fairbanks with two outs in the frame.
The Bucs scored six runs in the fourth, highlighted by Cade Pollock’s bases-clearing
double on the first pitch he saw from Fairbanks.
“That really broke the game open,” Petty said.
From there, Meredith was on cruise control.
In the last three frames, he allowed just three base runners, two of which reached
via base on balls.
There was a scary moment in the second inning when a high fastball got away from Meredith
and hit starting shortstop Ethan Teague squarely in the nose.
Teague fell to the ground in obvious pain and with blood gushing. He was replaced
by Burgess Tate and did not return.
“That really didn’t rattle me all that much because I was more worried about him,”
Meredith said. “It was just a high fastball that got away from me.”
Meredith recovered, picked off Tate at first base and retired the side.
“I was proud of Kaleb between innings because he talked to Tellico’s coach and asked
him how he was doing,” Petty said. “Kaleb was very concerned with that player, but
he was able to maintain composure and continue to fill up the strike zone.”
Will Joyner had a standout evening for the Bucs, going 4 for 4 with an RBI.
Pollock ended the game at 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, a and five RBIs. Jacob Pealer
doubled twice in a 2-for-4 effort.
Meredith got on base all four times — reaching by base hit, error, hit-by-pitch and
walk.
For Meredith, it marks his fourth trip to Murfreesboro in his long list of accomplishments.
He’s been three times for baseball and once for basketball.
“It’s incredible and a lot of people don’t even get to do it once,” Meredith said.
“Every year that we’ve had a chance to play in baseball, we’ve gone. Last year didn’t
count because of COVID. I’ve got some great teammates and great coaches that try to
get us there every year.”
UH Baseball Wins Regional Championship
UH Baseball Wins Regional Championship! Our Bucs will play Tellico Plains on Friday,
May 21st, at David Crockett's Sonny Miller Park, at 6:00 p.m. Go, Bucs, Go!
The following article was printed in the Johnson City press:
Grindstaff pitches UH to first region title since 2008
Tanner Cook
May 19, 2021
BAILEYTON — In the biggest of situations, upperclassmen usually step up to the plate.
On Wednesday night, University High senior pitcher Daniel Grindstaff delivered a gem
on the mound to help his squad clinch its first regional title since 2008 with a 8-3
win over North Greene.
Grindstaff notched a complete- game win, scattering seven hits and striking out four.
Even though it wasn’t the prettiest of scorecards, he kept the hard-hitting Huskies
in check and did not allow a runner past second base in the final three frames.
“Last time I pitched against (North Greene), they had only two or three balls that
we solidly hit,” Grindstaff said. “I pitched to contact and that was the plan. My
defense played great behind me for the most part and my offense backed me up.”
Added UH coach Josh Petty: “I’m the most proud of Daniel. He started off down in our
pitching order, but each game he pitched, all he did was fill the strike zone and
pitch to contact.”
The Bucs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on North Greene starter Cayden Foulks thanks
in part to two North Greene errors. The Huskies ended the day with five booted balls.
Foulks was relieved by lefty Carson Whaley in the third.
North Greene had a response, though. In the bottom of fourth with two outs, Carter
Morelock, Tucker Owen and Dakota Robbins all reached base safely.
They would all eventually score behind a UH error and an RBI single by Brady Harkleroad.
All of a sudden, North Greene was up 3-2.
UH answered right back in the top of the fifth, putting up five runs. Miles Bembry
led off with a single off Whaley and Kaleb Meredith reached by getting hit by a pitch.
“That one big inning started off with Miles Bembry — our nine-hole hitter — getting
a single and then we were finally able to put together an inning,” Petty said.
The first five batters of the fifth reached for the Bucs in a variety of ways, including
two North Greene errors.
The Bucs’ Jacob Pealer finished the game with a double and three RBIs. Jesse Greene
drove in a pair of runs while Joseph Armstrong and Will Joyner added two hits apiece.
Joyner also contributed three runs.
Morelock had the biggest night at the plate for the Huskies, going 3 for 4. The Huskies
had no extra-base hits. Owen batted 2 for 4 and Harkleroad accounted for two RBIs.
“It feels great to host that sectional game now,” Grindstaff said. “We don’t have
to take that 2 1/2-hour car ride. We get to have home field advantage.”
The Bucs will host Region 2-A runner-up Tellico Plains in Friday’s sectional action
at David Crockett’s Sonny Miller Park with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. North Greene
travels to Coalfield.
The winners of each game will clinch a berth in next week’s Class A state tournament
in Murfreesboro.
From left,
University High baseball coach Josh Petty, Hazel Meredith, Jeff Meredith, Kaleb Meredth,
Kathy Meredith, Barbara Broyles, Debbie Broyles and Johnny Broyles are shown in a
group shot. UH star pitcher Kaleb Meredith signed on with University of Tennessee
baseball Sunday afternoon.
Tanner Cook
The following article was printed in the Johnson City Press:
UH’s Meredith signs with Tennessee baseball
Tanner Cook
May 16, 2021
TUSCULUM — There’s not much Kaleb Meredith hasn’t done on either the basketball court
or the baseball diamond in the last four years for University High.
On Sunday afternoon, the hard work finally paid off as Meredith made it official and
signed a scholarship to play baseball for the University of Tennessee.
“It’s really hard to turn down your ‘hometown’ team that everybody loves,” Meredith
said. “With the culture of winning that they have and the way they do things, it felt
like a family as soon as I stepped on campus.”
Meredith — a left-handed pitcher with extraordinary command of his fastball — had
been committed to the Vols since his sophomore season, but the recent success of the
baseball program made the decision that much easier.
“I’ve met (Tennessee baseball coach) Tony Vitello multiple times and he and I will
text back and forth,” Meredith said. “I’ve met a few of the guys on the team and they’re
all great people.
“They all want to win baseball games down there, and that’s the culture that they’ve
built.”
Meredith is hitting over .420 in his senior season and leads all of Northeast Tennessee
in wins on the pitcher’s mound.
He is also among the top 10 in strikeouts.
“When Kaleb pitches, it makes me look very smart,” UH coach Josh Petty said. “He consistently
hits the strike zone and he has three pitches he can throw for strikes.
“He’s come along this year in hitting, too. He’s been batting leadoff all year and
he’s batting around .400. Kaleb has a very high ceiling and when he gets down there
with their throwing program and weight program, he’ll get better.”
Meredith is trying to help the Bucs to a third trip to the state tournament and will
be the starting pitcher today as UH travels to Greenback for a Region 1-A elimination
game.
On the basketball court, he’s equally as impressive.
Meredith is a two-time TSWA all-state selection and is Northeast Tennessee’s fourth
all-time leading scorer, finishing his career with 2,687 points.
In his senior season, he averaged over 27 points per contest before the Bucs were
bounced in the first round of the district tournament.
Meredith also holds the single-game record for University High, tallying an impressive
49 points at Tennessee High early in the season.
“My career in everything has been a blessing,” Meredith said. “It’s easy to get caught
up in the stats of over 2,600 points, but none of that happens without great teammates,
coaches and family to support me through it all.
“I’ve loved every minute of it. I love everybody at UH and I owe so much to so many
people.”
Meredith also isn’t too shabby in the classroom, navigating a tough curriculum at
UH with a 3.8 GPA and scoring 30 on the ACT.
“You’ll be really hard-pressed to find a lefty that can throw in the mid-80s and when
you do find one, you try to get as much out of him as you can,” Petty said. “Kaleb
will work hard for Tennessee on the field as well as in the classroom. He’ll be great
for them.”