Ozark’s players and coaches have dedicated their COC championship and upcoming post-season run to Victoria Jones.
Jones, a former Lady Tigers infielder and pitcher who also played club ball with many Ozark players on Ozark Union, passed away the first week of September.
“This season has been special for how we're doing. We’re doing it for Victoria and ourselves,” right fielder Karissa Roberts said.
Learning such a life lesson so early in their lives, the Lady Tigers have been mindful not to take each other and their time with each other for granted.
“It took a big toll on us to see how life can change really fast,” Roberts said. “From then on, we've learned to love each other more and appreciate our time together more.”
“It's brought a lot of us closer together,” first baseman Savannah Hughes said. “We have each other. We're here every day, always around each other and able to talk to each other.”
“We were each other's biggest supporters through it,” outfielder Brooklyn Hasler said. “Our next practice (following Jones’ death), we were telling each other we were happy to be there and thankful for each other. It was nice that we had each other during that time.”
Coach Jimmy Nimmo has been proud how his team has responded to the toughest loss they could imagine.
“It was a tough day with the Celebration Of Life we had for Victoria,” Nimmo said. “Victoria's parents have been very thankful for everything we've done for them.
“The girls have coped well with the situation,” he added. “They have supported each other. They are a great bunch of girls with big hearts and they care deeply for each other."
