Log in

Fundamental play on offense and defense trigger Ozark's undefeated run in COC play

Posted

Of the few conversations taking place, the chatter is light. There are smiles, but no laughter. There is no running, dancing or hijinks of any kind, rather a steady walk with eyes forward.

As Ozark's players make their way from their parking lot to their dugout while carrying their backpacks, their preparation for practice has no doubt already begun.

The Lady Tigers' focus in practices has carried over into games, leading to a somewhat unheralded bunch putting together a 26-win regular-season record that includes the COC championship.

None of Ozark's four seniors have been overwhelmed enough with offers to make a college commitment, yet. But there is an overwhelming commitment among the Lady Tigers to their focus on fundamentals.

Fundamentals carried Ozark to its undefeated COC run more than anything else.

"We hit them hard on the basics, fundamentals and small details. On the defensive side, we spend time on live situations as much as we can," coach Jimmy Nimmo said. "It's a commitment to the vision that we have for the program. We have a routine we go through on a daily basis. (During practices), there are a lot of individual skill-sets and team situations. That's part of what we try to bring into our program.

"We have good leadership. They have goals and want to reach those goals," he added. "Part of that is being focused on every single pitch they can be. They try to channel their energy as much as they can to stay game focused."

Ozark's focus on fundamentals is evident in its emphasis on small ball. During the course of a tightly-contested game and with a runner on first base, Nimmo often will ask any of his players 1-9 in the lineup to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Hitters purposely bunt foul more often than one would think so as to set themselves up to swing away. If a Lady Tiger tries such a ploy, she may still not get the chance to swing away, even with two strikes.

"Everyone is willing to do whatever we need to do to get it done and Nimmo always holds us accountable," first baseman Savannah Hughes said. "We know if we mess up the bunt, we'll probably still have to do it on our second and third strikes as well. If he calls the bunt, we need to get the bunt down. He'll keep calling it until we get it down."

"It's a big deal to move that runner over," right fielder Karissa Roberts said. "There are some teams that never bunt. They all try to hit. There are definitely times you need to bunt and move the runner over. I love how we know the person behind us can knock in the run."

Ozark's defense has been championship-caliber, even with the Lady Tigers having players at different positions than a year ago at all three outfield positions and the left side of the infield.

The defense and pitcher Jordyn Foley have complemented each other well. The Lady Tigers have posted 10 shutouts.

"I feel confident if the ball gets anywhere near them that they're going to get it," Foley said of her teammates. "It feels good to have them at my back."

"The defense has been great," Roberts said.

The Lady Tigers look much like they do during club ball season for Ozark Union. All of the starting nine play for Union, except for Hughes. She has filled in for Union for a couple tournaments.

Ozark sophomores Natalie Morgan and Audrey Carlton, who hit first and third for the Lady Tigers, have played 18-and-under club ball since they were freshmen. One reason they chose to do so was to team up with Foley, who is two years older than they are.

"There were two Union teams for a while," Foley said, noting she was on one team and the sophomores were on another team. "They were good enough (to play 18U). It was good for them to do that. It was a win-win. We were able to play in more competitive tournaments by combining. It has helped our team chemistry and we get along with Savannah just as well."

The link between the players in club ball and school ball is strengthened by the communication between Nimmo and Union coach Brad Morgan. During the spring and summer, Nimmo and Morgan discussed having Allie Muggenburg gain experience as a third baseman, leading the way for her to play third for the Lady Tigers.

"Having those kind of conversations — open communication back and forth — helps our program dramatically," Nimmo said.

"We get it all figured out in the summer time and then do good in the season," Roberts said.

Ozark's COC championship is the first for the program in five years. The Lady Tigers look forward to seeing their team and names join the list of other Ozark championship teams on signs that tower over visiting teams beyond home plate.

"It has been a special year," Roberts said.

"Halfway through this season we were like, 'We can actually do it,'" outfielder Brooklyn Hasler said of winning the conference title. "It'll be cool to come back for a game and see my name up there and this team and remember how well we did this season."

Ozaek No. 1 seed in Class 5 District 5

Ozark enters the start of Class 5 District 5 play on Tuesday as the No. 1 seed. Nixa is No. 2, Kickapoo No. 3, Neosho No. 4, Joplin No. 6, Carthage No. 6, Republic No. 7 and Springfield Central No. 8.

"Everything played out pretty much like I thought they would," Nimmo said of the seeds. "All four of (the top four seeds) had a right to be a one or two seed. You look at the teams individually and you can't judge them by record alone. You have to judge things by how you observe teams when you play them and strength of schedule. I think that had a little bit to do with us getting a one seed. The strength of our schedule is really high. We played in the Rock Bridge Tournament, the Jefferson City Tournament and the tournament we host. We've played a lot of top 10 schools in Classes 3-5."


X
X