Bucs two wins away from 'A' baseball title

May 21, 2015 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated May 21, 2015 at 1:31 a.m.

by Ward Gossett

Boyd-Buchanan runner Cade Evans steals 3rd ahead of the throw to 3rd baseman Ben Taylor during their Division I-A losers-bracket game at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Wednesday, May 20, 2015,
Boyd-Buchanan runner Cade Evans steals 3rd ahead of the throw to 3rd baseman Ben Taylor during their Division I-A losers-bracket game at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Wednesday, May 20, 2015,

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Some might call it revenge and others might say Boyd-Buchanan will be seeking redemption this afternoon at the Spring Fling's Class A baseball tournament.

The Buccaneers, who lost in lopsided fashion Tuesday to Knoxville's Grace Christian, get their chance for payback today after Wednesday's wins against Huntingdon, 8-2, and Cornersville, 11-0 in five innings.

Boyd-Buchanan and Grace play at 3 at Middle Tennessee Christian with the "if necessary" game at 5:30. The championship is noon Friday at Middle Tennessee State.

"Knox Grace is a very good ballclub, and I think we'll see their No. 1 (pitcher Tanner Fee) tomorrow," Boyd-Buchanan coach Josh Rider said. "We're looking forward to the opportunity to compete against them. We'll see if we can rise to the challenge."

The Buccaneers seemed to relax after their first-day fiasco.

"The guys have never been afraid of pressure, but we're playing more free and easy," Rider said.

Against Huntingdon, they banged out nine hits to back the pitching of Josh Antwine, who earned his seventh win of the year. Against Cornersville, they got a two-hitter from Cade Evans, who struck out eight in the run-rule game.

Yet it wasn't just pitching.

Austin Jackson had two home runs entering the Spring Fling. The senior now has five, unloading two against Huntingdon and another against Cornersville. On Tuesday, he was a combined 4-for-7 with four runs and three RBIs, showing his move from No. 5 in the batting order to leadoff bothered him not at all.

"If I can better help the team, then I'm better off in the No. 1 spot," the senior outfielder said.

Rider said Jackson is "one of the kids that is unaffected by change."

"He's going to get his hits, and I would think he's one guy (opposing pitchers) don't want to see step in the batter's box," Rider said. "He's seeing the fastballs and he's not missing. Some (college program) has got to take a flyer on him."

E.J. Matthews added a triple in each of the games, Colby Morgan was 2-for-3 against Cornersville and Matthews had three RBIs in each game.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.

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