OWINGSVILLE The moment wasn’t too big for Monty Davis.
The Boyd County pitching staff lives for those moments.
The Lions built an early lead in the 16th Region championship game Saturday, but Ashland looked primed to start a rally. The Tomcats had plated three runs in the inning before, and ace Grant Slater, still regaining his late-inning stamina after a year of injuries, departed the contest.
Body County coach Frank Conley called Davis’s number in the biggest game of the season. He’s had plenty to choose from as the Lions looked to defend their region title.
They hope to have four games left over the next two weeks. Conley likes putting multiple guys on the hill, and cultivating a deep pitching staff can pay dividends down the road.
“It’s great for the longevity of our program,” Conley said. “Monty Dixon pitched in a region championship. He will be ready to go next year. CJ Smith started in a district tournament for us. They are getting experience. They are not going to see a situation next year that leaves them in awe of anything. They have already been through it before.”
Right on cue, Davis entered the game and recorded three straight outs. The junior’s delivery was a sharp contrast to his predecessor’s. Slater brings heat and high octane. Davis maneuvers the ball around the plate with offspeed pitches.
“Ashland has done well against high-velocity guys,” Conley said. “They produced a lot of good swings. I watched them against other teams, and guys go out there and throw breaking balls. It worked for us. Monty does a great job. He’s not scared of anything. He throws strikes and he will challenge hitters. He did that for us (on Saturday).”
Boyd County used 15 different pitchers this season, and eight assumed a starting role. No one on the staff has a losing record. Brayden Nunley is 6-0 in eight starts. Jace Manning leads the team with 54 strikeouts and sports a 1.65 ERA. Both recorded region wins last week.
Senior and Cincinnati signee Cole Adams (2.07 ERA) has only given up nine total hits in seven starts.
“I’ve been injured, and I have not seen the mound since district tournament time,” Adams said. “I hurt my shoulder, but I’m back now. I just want to help this team, and we have some young guys who have pulled through with hitting and pitching. I’m so proud of our guys. As a senior, seeing these young guys grow, it means the world.”
The seniors remain the mound catalysts for the team. Isaac Leeper stayed solid in 11 relief appearances. Brayden Coleman was a dependable force in the dugout and on the mound, while posting a 4-1 record.
“This performance means a lot,” Coleman said after a senior-day victory against Raceland on May 12. “You don’t know if that’s going to be your last time on the mound or if you’re going to pitch in the postseason or at least district play. You have to be ready if your number is called. I felt like it was important for me to get it done.”
“Brayden has been hurt a lot, and his arm has been bothering him,” Conley added. “Every time we ask him, he says he wants the ball. He takes it and does the best he can. He’s not at 100%, but he will take the ball whenever we need him.”
The Lions found young contributors such as Evan Williams and Smith, and even freshman Nicholas Jackson saw an inning of work earlier in the season. He threw 11 pitches and ended with a pair of strikeouts.
Slater worked his way back on the hill and didn’t see significant innings until the postseason. He occupied his outfield spot most of the year but remained a source of support for his teammates.
“Coach (Ben) Maynard does a great job,” Slater said. “He keeps us healthy and has great programs to keep our arms in shape.
“My message has been to compete and trust your stuff. Stay in the zone and know that you have eight guys behind you that have your back.”
Boyd County meets South Oldham today in the opening game of the state tournament at Legends Field in Lexington at 10 a.m.
The 16 remaining teams must devise a proper game plan to navigate the next four games. The Lions could look to their ace to set the tone, but Conley has several options at his disposal to slay the Dragons. He’s carefully cultivated a season-long blueprint to determine each player’s spot in the rotation.
“Early on in the year, we are on a pitch count limit,” Conley said. “We use a lot of guys there. You let the pitches fall where they may, and you see who can and who can’t and go from there. You can find out who fits in what roles the best, whether a guy is better in two-inning situations or if he’s better as a starter. Coach Maynard and coach (Billy) McCoy do a great job with those guys. Our coaches always have them ready.”
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