Two days after pulling off a comeback win over Joplin, it was Republic’s turn to feel the sting of a late-inning loss. Ozark freshman Natalie Morgan blooped a single down the line in right field to score two runs, giving Ozark (24-7) a 4-3 win in the bottom of the seventh inning in the district semifinals. The walk-off hit ended a thrilling game that featured several momentum swings throughout the night.
Mara Lakey suffered the tough-luck loss for Republic, despite turning in one of the gutsiest performances of her career. She held state-ranked Ozark in check after they took an early lead, pitched out of trouble all night, and had Republic in position to win until the last at-bat.
“I’m gonna brag on Mara Lakey real big, because sat in that circle all season long and competed and competed,” said coach Lee Dishman. “We came out on the losing end of it, but they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
Ozark had scored single tallies in the bottom of the first and bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. But Jenna Belcher gave the Republic fans their first jolt of excitement in the top of the third. With Emma Robinson on first base after a bunt single, Belcher lined the ball over the center field fence to tie the score 2-2. It was Belcher’s second home run in as many games.
Ozark threatened to tie it in the bottom of the inning, but with two on and two out, Lakey worked out of trouble with a strikeout.
In the fourth, Republic took the lead. Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs singled and Gracie Woods came in to pinch run. Woods stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout. She scored on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch to make the score 3-2 Republic.
Ozark came close to tying the game again in the bottom of the fourth, putting two runners on base with two outs, and a three-balls-no-strikes count to the hitter. But Lakey coaxed a pop-out to right field to get out of trouble again.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ozark got two base hits to put runners at first and third, but lost a runner at the plate on a double-steal attempt. An infield hit put runners at the corners again with two outs, but Republic second baseman Emma Robinson fielded a hot shot on one hop and threw out the runner to retire the side.
After threatening so often, Ozark finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Courtney Merrell singled to lead off and Kenna Mayfield followed that with another single. After a groundout put runners at second and third, Morgan hit a soft line drive into right field to score both runs and send Ozark into the district championship game against Nixa.
Republic managed just three base hits all night off Ozark pitcher Jordyn Foley, who earned the win. Lakey allowed nine hits and four runs, striking out three and walking four.
Republic finishes its season with a 16-11 record. Dishman said he was proud of his team’s continued effort down the stretch.
“We came together in the last week or so as a program,” he said. “Our dugout energy tonight was tremendous. We had 21 girls competing out there and wanting to win it tonight.”
The game was the last one in a Republic uniform for seniors Lakey, Jaci West, Megan Heavin, and Arwen Ezell-McKinney. Dishman praised the leadership of his older players throughout the season.
“We’ve got a lot of young girls, but our seniors and juniors, they stepped up,” he said. “They should be proud of themselves and proud of our program. We’re just some average Joes, and we’re going to go hook it up with you and compete.”