In what has become an annual tradition on the campus of ETSU, the halls of Alexander Hall flooded with the students of University School to celebrate and send their best wishes to the U-H baseball team.
For the sixth straight season, the Buccaneer baseball team is heading to the TSSAA Spring Fling; a streak that first-year head coach Christian Taylor doesn’t take for granted.
“It means a lot to our players and it means a lot to this staff as well,” Taylor said. “U-H has a tradition of winning, and we are looking to carry on that and build upon it.”
Despite all of the success to consistently make the state tournament, wins in the big dance have been much tougher to come by for the Bucs. Since the streak of appearances began in 2018, University High has amassed just one win in the tournament.
However, Taylor believes that this year’s squad is different from its predecessors.
“We’ve definitely put in a lot of work,” Taylor said. “We’ve done 6 a.m.’s. We’ve upped our standard of play. We’re really good on the mound, we hit the baseball, and we make the plays, and that’s, ultimately, what makes a good team.”
One way that the Buccaneers are looking to change the state tournament mojo is with a change of hair color.
In a player-led expedition, the majority of the U-H roster is sporting bleached or dyed hair for the trip to the ‘Boro. While it has become a team-wide trend, the idea started with brothers Patrick and Peter Boynewicz.
“It’s something that our players chose to do to bring them closer together,” Taylor said. “It’s been fun seeing their reactions when the next guy comes in, seeing what their hair looks like. Just a bonding moment and something for them to do together.”
The first opponent for the Buccaneers in the Spring Fling will be Halls, as they will match up on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Rockvale High School. Taylor believes that his squad should come prepared for a pitchers’ duel.
“It’s the state tournament, so everybody is going to be good down there,” the Bucs' skipper said. “But they are athletic, they’ve got some pitching. It looks like all of their scores have been low-scoring.”
Baseball will not be the only sport representing University High in the mid-state. Track and field and both boys’ and girls’ tennis will be competing for championships in Murfreesboro.
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