Ozark third baseman Luke Baer did about everything he could to provide what would have been a game-winning home run Tuesday.
With the potential tying and winning runs on base, Baer ripped a fast ball deep and high toward left-center field. But Mother Nature and her relentless wind dramatically cut short the ball’s path and turned what could have been a walk-off homer on many days into a harmless flyout.
An Ozark rally was denied, as the Tigers fell to Joplin 3-2.
Mindful of the wind, Ozark pitcher Caden O’Donnell and Tigers coach Justin Sundlie didn’t allow themselves to get overly excited when Baer made contact.
“I knew he hit it hard, but with this wind blowing in, I was thinking it had a chance to get down and score a couple runs,” O’Donnel said.
“He put a good swing on the pitch, but that crosswind knocks everything down,” Sundlie said. “On a normal (day), that ball clears the fence.”
Ozark (13-7) wasn’t able to keep alive its winning streak that had reached six games, despite a solid, if not spectacular, effort on the mound from O’Donnell.
O’Donnell threw a complete game, shaking off a 2-0 Joplin lead after... Click here to read full article
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