SPRINGFIELD — Less than a week since she was bumped up from being Ozark’s proverbial second leadoff hitter to the Lady Tigers’ actual leadoff hitter, Kelsie Batey is getting settled in atop their lineup.
Batey walked and scored to start Ozark’s 17-0, three-inning rout of Springfield Central on Tuesday in a Class 5 District 5 first-round game.
More walks, hit batsmen and wild pitches ensued in a predictable blowout.
Ozark has won six straight since Batey was penciled in at leadoff at the Carthage Tournament last weekend. The Lady Tigers have won 12 in a row overall.
“I was kind of in shock,” Batey said of learning for the first time she was batting leadoff. “I knew I had to get my job done. It’s like batting anywhere else. Knowing (coach Jimmy Nimmo) has confidence in me makes a big difference.
“I liked (hitting ninth) better,” she added. “There was less pressure.”
Batey already had a bit of leadoff experience.
“I led off two years ago,” she said. “Everyone was believing in me then. I liked the confidence they had in me.”
As the District’s No. 1 seed, Ozark (26-7) drew No. 8 seed Central (0-15). That meant facing much slower pitching from the Lady Bulldogs than the Lady Tigers are accustomed to.
“It throws you off,” Batey said.
“It’s a lot of waiting,” said designated player Avery Elliott, who tripled off the left-field fence. “You have to be perfect on your timing or you’re going to pop it up or hit it on the ground.”
Brooklyn Hasler, Courtney Merrell, Karissa Roberts, Harlow Hawkins and Savannah Hughes also all had a hit as Ozark plated 17 runs on seven hits.
Winning pitcher Jordyn Foley and Elliott combined to one-hit Central.
Nimmo had already made plans before the game for the Lady Tigers to practice afterward to prepare for Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. semifinal against No. 5 seed Joplin. The Lady Eagles beat No. 4 seed Neosho 2-1.
“We’re going to straight to practice to work on quicker pitching to get our timing back,” Elliott said. “It’s exciting coming in knowing we’re the first seed and we have a target on our backs. We have to be ready. We have prepared all season for this, so it’s exciting.”
Nixa edges Republic in opening round
Phoebe Gardner’s game-ending RBI-single with one out in the seventh inning lifted Nixa to a 2-1 first-round triumph against Republic.
The Lady Eagles had been held to one hit through six innings before, Lily Wooten walked with one out in the seventh and Paige Garetson and Gardner followed with singles.
Winning pitcher Maddy Meierer fired a three-hitter and struck out seven.
Over her last four starts covering 28 innings, Meierer has allowed just four runs and struck out 27.
Nixa (25-6) advances to meet No. 3 seed Kickapoo (26-8) Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Kickapoo downed Carthage 11-1.
