Boyd County provides tough quarterfinal opponent for Blazers

University Heights Academy’s quarterfinal opponent in Saturday’s KHSAA State Baseball Tournament is no stranger to this stage.

Boyd County is making its 11th appearance in the state tournament since 1998. The Lions won the 2001 state title and were runner-up in 1998.

Last year, the Region 16 champs advanced to the state semifinals where they fell to eventual state champion Louisville Trinity 5-0. In 2022, Boyd lost in the quarterfinal round.

UHA Head Coach Michael Crow said he had some homework to do in preparation for the Lions.

The Lions are 27-7 on the season and advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals with a 5-1 victory over No. 15-ranked South Oldham.

Boyd County has three batters hitting better than .400 and nine who hit better than .340 on the season. The team batting average is .367.

Meanwhile, Boyd has a team ERA of 2.46. Brayden Nunley has started eight games this year and is 6-0 with a 2.48 ERA. The Lions also have available Jace Manning, who is 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA and Cole Adams, who is 2-1 with a 2.07 ERA.

The seventh-ranked Blazers (30-8) are making their first appearance in the KHSAA State Tournament. They advanced to the quarterfinals with an impressive 9-1 win over Region 14 champion Wolfe County on Thursday behind a strong pitching performance from Jaiden Miles.

Miles, who went five innings and scattered five hits while striking out six and allowing one run, said the Blazers are excited to continue their season Saturday afternoon.

The Blazers have ace Hayden Hunt available to pitch for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. Central time game. Hunt, a First-Team All-State selection, is 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA. UHA also has Jackson Flynn (5-0, 3.27 ERA) available for the quarterfinal matchup.

In the first game on Saturday, No. 3-ranked McCracken County is scheduled to meet No. 6 Sayre at 9 a.m. The winner of the first two games will meet June 12 at 9 a.m. at Kentucky Proud Park at the University of Kentucky.

Airtime for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.

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