Thinking back to her junior high days, Kelsie Batey doesn’t think too many Ozark fans thought much of her potential at-bat.
“I don't think they would have expected me to grow much,” the Lady Tigers leadoff hitter and third baseman said. “I’m getting better as the years go by.”
Batey’s bat has been productive all season and she was again a bright spot in Ozark’s 7-2 setback at the hands of Willard on Tuesday.
Batey singled, walked and scored both of Ozark’s runs.
Audrey Carlton singled to drive in Batey for a run in the first inning. Batey scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.
Ozark trailed all game, after Willard plated two runs in the first and three in the third against pitcher Kendall McCoy.
Alyson Miller hit a three-run home run for the winners.
With the loss, Ozark (13-10 overall and 2-4 in the COC) likely saw its hopes of repeating as COC champions end. Willard, Carthage and Neosho lead the league with one loss apiece.
Ozark has totaled just four runs in three COC losses.
"We need to focus on hitting a lot more and have confidence throughout our lineup, Batey said. “We’ll keep pushing and try our best.”
Ozark finished last week by winning at home versus Kickapoo 7-5 Wednesday, before being blanked by Neosho 8-0 Thursday.
The Lady Tigers managed just two hits while striking out 10 times against Neosho. Kendall McCoy gave up five on six hits over five innings of work.
Elsewhere in the COC last Thursday, Nixa dropped a 1-0 decision at Carthage.
The Lady Eagles' Bri Chilton struck out nine and allowed four hits and two walks in six innings.
Nixa (10-6 overall and 3-3 in the COC) recorded just four hits.
