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By LARRY “SCOOP” McCARTY
Ozark rallied for four runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the fifth and defeated the Heber Springs Panthers 8-3 in a 4-4A Conference baseball game at the Heber Springs Sports Complex on Friday.
The Hillbillies (2-2 in 4-4A, 8-7 overall) are tied for third place with the win. Meanwhile, the Panthers (1-2 in 4-4A, 8-10 overall) slipped into a tie for fifth place with Pottsville (1-2 in 4-4A, 7-7 overall). Morrilton (3-0 in 4-4A, 12-1 overall) remains at the top of the standings, one game ahead of Dardanelle (2-1 in 4-4A, 9-5 overall) and Clarksville (2-1 in 4-4A, 7-4 overall).
Kayden McAnally led Ozark with three singles and a stolen base. Sterling Strick hit a single and a double with 3 RBIs. Dylan Herriage, who was the winning pitcher, had a 2-run double Herriage allowed nine hits and three run with seven strikeouts in 6 and two/third innings. McAnally relieved Herriage and got the final out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Kenan Sneed had two singles and a double with one stolen base for the Panthers. Corbin Jones hit a 2-run double and Liam Buffalo had an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Jones, who was the starting and losing pitcher, scattered five hits and yielded five runs before Ty West relieved with one out in the top of the fourth inning. West pitched through the fifth inning. J.T. Spears finished with four strikeouts and allowed three hits and one earned during the final two innings.
Ozark took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before breaking the game open with four runs in the fourth. The Hillbillies added two runs in the fifth and scored one run in the seventh.
Heber Springs scored its runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Heber Springs resumes conference play at Clarksville on Tuesday and then it will host Subiaco Academy on Friday. The conference games will start at 4:30 p.m.
Ozark 010 420 1–8 10 0
Heber Springs 000 030 0–3 9 1
Ozark hitters: Kayden McAnally 3 singles, 1 stolen base; Sterling Strick single, double, 3 RBIs; Dylan Herriage double, 2 RBIs; Spencer Lippott single, 2 RBIs; Richdan Case single, 1 RBI; Landon Wright single; Dax Shaffer single.
Heber Springs hitters: Kenan Sneed 2 singles, double, 1 stolen base; Corbin Jones double, 2 RBIs; Liam Buffalo single, 1 RBI; J.T. Spears single; Logan Lozeau single; John McBroome single; Preston Fitzpatrick single.
Ozark pitchers: Dylan Herriage (WP) 9 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts in 6.2 innings; Kayden McAnally 0 hits, 0 runs in .1 inning.
Heber Springs pitchers: Corbin Jones (LP) 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts in 3.1 innings; Ty West 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout in 1.2 inning; J.T. Spears 3 hits, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts in 2 innings.