Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Merciless Hillbillies Hammer Wolves
FARMINGTON — Things were looking up for Lincoln when Dalton Simmons blasted a two-run double, scoring runners from first and third, to forge an 8- 8 tie with Ozark.
The optimism quickly faded when Ozark came up to bat in the seventh inning and pounded Lincoln pitching for 11 runs to hand the Wolves a 19-10 loss in the consolation game of the 4A North Regional baseball tournament on May 7.
Originally scheduled for Monday, the game was postponed by rain with the Wolves playing a doubleheader on Tuesday. After losing in the semifinal to Prairie Grove earlier in the afternoon, Lincoln battled the Hillbillies and with the loss went into the State 4A tournament at Harrison having to play again against Brookland.
The contest with Ozark saw lead changes and ties as momentum went back and forth. Lincoln led 1- 0 early and avoided trouble in the second inning with Cord McCaslin striking out Alex Williams on a called strike three after runners had advanced on a wild pitch.
McCaslin then went to bat and walked. Drew Harris reached on an error and Payton Hulse plated McCaslin on a sacrifice fly but Drew Harris was caught in a rundown and Lincoln squandered an opportunity to score more runs.
Ozark also made mistakes. After a single, a walk and a passed ball moving a runner to third, Ethan Hawkins was called for interference negating a run and allowing Lincoln to maintain a 3-1 lead.
The Wolves led 4-1 to end the third inning but an Ozark rally put the Hillbillies ahead, 8-5. Ossy Escareno got Tripp White out to end the at-bat and Lincoln went to work.
Tyler Cummings got a bunt single with his finger nicked in the process. Nonethe-less he beat the throw to first with one out. McCaslin doubled into the left corner and Drew Harris plated Cummings on a fielder’s choice play. Simmons then smacked a 1-2 pitch for a two-run double to tie the game, at 8-all.