Kentucky fan Krystal Dittus cried watching UK coach Nick Mingione's press conference after the Cats earned a College World Series berth. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It’s hard to explain the buzz that Kentucky baseball has created for UK fans not only in the Bluegrass but across the nation.
The Wildcats set back-to-back attendance records last weekend while beating Oregon State in the Super Regional.
Kentucky opens World Series play Saturday afternoon against North Carolina State. ESPN/SEC Network analyst Tom Hart worked the Georgia-North Carolina State super regional last week. He expects BBN to show out in force in Omaha even if some others don’t.
“Had a national college baseball writer (I won’t expose him here) tell me Kentucky fans won’t travel to Omaha,” Hart posted on X this week. “I countered with #BBN being a big event, party happy fan base that has the potential to take over the town. Who’s right? #RoadToOmaha.”
We won’t know for sure until Saturday but let me tell you about Krystal and Chip Dittus. They are UK fans who now live in Key West, Fla. I met them years ago when they regularly attended the SEC Tournament like I did and Krystal is as passionate as any UK fan I know when it comes to her Cats.
The couple will be in Omaha Saturday. Work schedules will only allow them to be there for one game as they have a 5 a.m. flight Sunday back to Key West. However, it was a no-brainer that they were going when Chip suggested it.
“We might not ever get to do this again. This is the first time Kentucky has been there and who knows when we might get to do this again,” Krystal said. “This is a sports bucket list item.
“You know me. I follow the rifle team. I follow all UK teams. Big Blue Nation will support teams when they are going well and BBN is certainly going to support this baseball team. I had tears listening to coach (Nick) Mingione’s press conference (after the Super Regional win).
“They have stolen our heart. They are not (former UK basketball player and fan favorite) Tyler Ulis but they are very, very close.”
She said it was “very hard” to get tickets after UK won early Monday morning to clinch its spot in the World Series. Both her and her husband were online on different devices trying before they finally got tickets for Saturday.
“It was very stressful because of the security measures ,” Krystal said. “We booked airfare, hotel and rental car package. But I also know people in Louisville who are driving all the way out for the Saturday game and coming back.
“It’s not like March Madness. People didn’t plan PTO (paid time off) or finances to do this. But you can’t no go. This is the first time ever. I think Kentucky fans are going to be there. It’s a little harder because it is so last minute and I really don’t think anybody in their wildest dreams thought UK would be in the College World Series. Now that Kentucky is, you want to be there.”
Krystal has seen the various UK College World Series T-shirts for sale but the couple will not have new shirts in Omaha.
“You know I have to wear the same shirt I wore for the region and super region to keep up the mojo,” Krystal said. “You don’t mess with what is working.”
