Boyd-Buchanan will play Forrest in a matchup of state-ranked teams on Tuesday in the first game of the Class A state baseball tournament.
In the softball portion of Spring Fling, Soddy-Daisy’s district, region and sectional champion Lady Trojans have drawn Collierville on Wednesday morning.
Chattanooga rivals Baylor and Girls Preparatory tangle in the first round of Division II-AA action on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bucs (28-9), riding a 15-game winning streak going into Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, is the second District 5-A team in as many years to reach the state tourney. In 2013, Silverdale Baptist Academy reached the championship game where it lost to Friendship Christian, 4-0, at Middle Tennessee State University.
Boyd-Buchanan lost to Friendship, 10-0, in the 2012 sectional and lost to Decatur County Riverside, 10-0, in the 2010 championship game.
“That says our district plays good baseball,” Bucs coach Josh Rider said Saturday night. “It seems like every year we have a great team that challenges to be in the elite level of teams. We’re proud to be a part of that group again this year.”
Boyd-Buchanan is ranked fifth in Class A, according to the latest coachT.com poll while Forrest is No. 8.
The Rockets lost in district and region championship games, but upset No. 2-ranked Summerton, 3-2, in the sectionals to earn a spot in the state tournament.
The Bucs defeated Silverdale, 10-0, for the district title, knocked off South Pittsburg, 6-1, for the region crown and routed Jackson County, 12-2, in the sectional for a trip to the state tourney.
“I don’t know a whole lot about Forrest at this point,” Rider said. “I did read about them beating Summertown on a three-run homer. I’m going to do some research on them, I’ll tell you that. I do know there won’t be an easy game in the state tournament.”
Forrest’s Alex Brewer smacked a dramatic three-run homer in the seventh to beat Summertown and earn the Rockets their first state tourney appearance since 2006 – Forrest finished runner-up that season.
Obviously, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the Bucs’ baseball program since the Bucs punched their ticket to the state tournament with the win over Jackson County on Friday.
Tuesday’s game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern at Middle Tennessee Christian School.
In Divison II-AA, McCallie and Baylor are in the four-team field and if each wins on Tuesday, they would square off in the second round.
McCallie plays Christian Brothers on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Wilson Central High School and Baylor takes on Memphis University School in the second game at the same site.
The Lady Trojans, who won a dramatic 5-4 decision over Oakland in nine innings Friday, will take on Collierville on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Eastern at the Starplex softball complex.
Soddy-Daisy, seeking its ninth state title, takes a 35-8 record into the tournament. The Soddy-Daisy-Collierville winner will play the Wilson Central-Maryville winner in the quarterfinals Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Should Soddy-Daisy lose the opener, it would turn right around and play an elimination game.
The Lady Red Raiders and Bruisers clash in the second of two games Tuesday on Starplex Field No. 3, with the first game starting at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Baylor is the three-time defending state champion and beat GPS in the 2011 and 2012 championship games.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)