Abby Ford’s return from a torn ACL to assume her spots at the top of Ozark’s lineup and in center field was everything she hoped it would be.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better comeback and senior season,” Ford said Thursday upon being named to the Missouri High School Softball Coaches Association’s Class 5 All-State Second Team.
Ford’s post-season awards have also included being tabbed the COC Player of The Year, a unanimous All-COC First-Team selection, a Class 5 All Region First-Team choice and a Class 5 District 6 First-Team pick.
Ford picked up as a senior where she left off as a sophomore. After missing all of her junior season, she put up exceptional numbers this year. The slap-hitting lefty dynamo batted .479 with 39 runs scored and 30 RBIs. She hit for more power than ever before, banging out 13 triples and seven doubles.
Her 13 triples are tied for the second most in a season in state history. Rolla’s Keira Chrisco holds the state record with 14 triples in 2019.
Ford’s 57 hits rank 21st in state history.
Ford shined defensively, as well. She had two catches on the season robbing opponents of would-be home runs, including a memorable snag in the District final in which she slammed against the fence at Nixa to deny the Lady Eagles’ Sara Sweaney of a homer. In addition, she had a diving catch in Ozark’s District semifinal win.
Ford related that her injury fueled her fire to do whatever it took this season.
“Watching my team from the bench last season was hard. But that gave me so much motivation to give everything I had this season,” Ford said. “I had the mentality that I was going to get every ball that came in my direction. It didn’t matter if I had to run through the fence or completely lay out for it.
“During the post-season, I know I did everything I could to help my team,” she added “I left the field with no what-ifs or regrets.”
Without Ford last season, Ozark was 15-15. With Ford over her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons, the Lady Tigers were 23-10 three years ago, 18-7 two years ago and 24-8 this year.
“My team made this season the most fun I’ve ever had playing softball,” she said. “This is the closest-knit team I’ve ever been a part of. I am beyond proud of what we accomplished.”
Joining Ford on the Class 5 All-State Second Team are Nixa pitcher Maddy Meierer and Nixa shortstop Phoebe Gardner.
Meierer was 17-5 with a 2.10 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 130 innings. Gardner batted .485 with 50 hits, 18 doubles, three homers and 35 RBIs. Meierer and Gardner are both juniors.
In addition to Ford, the All-COC First Team includes Gardner, Meierer and Ozark pitcher Jordyn Foley.
All-COC Second-Team selections are Ozark’s Kenna Mayfield and Savannah Hughes and Nixa’s Chloe Krans and Dakota Hale.
All-District First-Team picks are Ford, Foley, Mayfield, Hughes, Meierer, Gardner, Hale, Krans and Kaylee Schlenker.
