By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
One word to describe Ozark’s outlook for 2023? Opportunity.
With much of the lineup not finalized, preseason practices and scrimmages will determine who takes the field this spring.
The Tigers are eager to see which players can become regular starters and drive success.
“Our expectations are always to compete for a conference championship and a district championship,” said Ozark coach Justin Sundlie, who enters his third season at the helm. “We have a lot of work to do to get this done. Practices will be very competitive, which is what we strive for.”
Ozark welcomes back five players with significant varsity experience.
Senior catcher Cooper Buvid is a team leader behind the plate. He earned second team all-conference honors as a junior after hitting .330 with seven extra-base hits and 24 RBIs.
“Cooper has been a great presence for us the last two years,” Sundlie said. “He is a true field general and does a great job handling our pitching staff. Offensively, we will rely on him to drive in runs and continue to be a large part of our lineup.”
The Tigers hope senior Brady Dodd (P/IF) can be a difference-maker at pitcher and at the plate. Dodd had a 2.76 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched last season. As a hitter, he finished with a .311 average with 14 runs scored.
“Potentially, Brady could be our No. 1 (pitcher) and we are excited to watch him step into this role when he is not playing in our middle infield,” Sundlie said. “Offensively he has a good chance of hitting at the top of our lineup and being a spark for our offense.”
Senior Brock Sundlie will anchor Ozark’s outfield unit. Sundlie, who played in left field last season, will likely become Ozark’s starting center fielder this season. He hit .317 as a junior.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LINKS TO ALL OF THE SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
“Brock does a great job leading our outfield,” Coach Sundlie said. “Offensively, his bat could put him anywhere around the top of the lineup. He has quality ABs and we will rely on him to drive in runs for us.”
Senior Hudson Kissee and junior Gage Depee are two veterans on a pitching staff hit hard by graduation.
Kissee has experience out of the bullpen; he tallied a 3.00 ERA last season.
“Hudson could be a spot-starter, or play a closer/bridge role,” Coach Sundlie said. “He is very confident in his pitches and adapts well to different roles.”
Depee emerged onto the varsity scene in his sophomore season. He had a 4.31 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.
“Gage had a good summer and has continued to improve,” Coach Sundlie said. “He will most likely be a rotation arm for us along with playing in our infield. Offensively, he has a powerful swing and could be a big contributor.”
The Tigers finished 17-11 overall last season, bouncing back from an 11-win campaign in 2021. Ozark reeled off 11 straight wins midway through last spring.
But the 2023 lineup will look much different from the 2022 lineup.
Ozark graduated a seven-player senior class, many of which earned postseason honors.
Devyn Wright, who played outfield and pitcher, was first team all-conference and all-district. He hit .379 at the plate while going 5-3 on the mound with a 2.68 ERA. Wright now plays at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
Greydon Miller (Drury), Rhett Hayward (State Fair), Brody Baumann (College of the Ozarks) and Sutton Hanks (Columbia College) are continuing their careers at the next level as well. Baumann earned first team all-conference honors as a pitcher (3.30 ERA).
Also gone are Kannon Little, who started every game at shortstop and was the team’s primary leadoff hitter, and Ryan Wood. Coach Sundlie described Wood as a “team leader.”
Several starting spots are up for grabs, and Ozark has no shortage of available options. More than a dozen players are looking to earn full-time varsity roles for the first time.
“It’s hard to say at this point what our strengths are going to be, but I know we’ll have to pitch well and play good defense to reach our goals,” Coach Sundlie said.
In the senior class, Ozark will have players like Andrew Bauer (IF/P), Brock Dodd (OF), Cash Morgan (UTL), Kadin Powers (P) and Drew Chesick (P) looking to become everyday players.
Bauer, who started at shortstop on JV last year, will likely fill that role on varsity this year.
“He’s had a great offseason and will be a large part of any success we have this season,” Coach Sundlie said. “Offensively, he has a good swing and with the strength he gained in the offseason, he could help with our run production.”
Dodd missed all of his junior season with a broken hand.
“We are excited to have his bat back in the lineup,” Coach Sundlie said. “He is a possible middle-of-the-lineup hitter and could be an everyday player for us in the outfield.”
Morgan can play nearly anywhere, Coach Sundlie said, but figures to have a role along the infield.
Powers and Chesick will boost Ozark’s bullpen.
“Kadin will give us depth on the front and back end of our bullpen. He worked hard in the offseason on improving his fastball command and breaking ball,” Coach Sundlie said. “Drew is a very competitive kid who will fight for innings in our bullpen.”
A deep junior class figures to play a large role in Ozark’s success as well.
Alex Nimmo (P/IF), George Reynolds (C/IF), Truman Griessel (IF), Ethan Blanchard (OF/P), Landon Blanchard (OF/P), Noah Jones (OF) and Caden McGehee (3B/P) are all battling for playing time.
Ozark will use Nimmo’s versatility on the infield and on the mound.
“Alex does a great job being aggressive in the zone with multiple pitches,” Coach Sundlie said.
Reynolds brings a powerful bat to the lineup. Griessel, a lefty, could work his way into a DH/pinch-hitter role.
The Blanchards will compete for innings in the outfield and as pitchers. Jones is a left-handed hitter who brings quality speed to the field.
McGehee, who also plays third base, has a unique delivery and could become a nice weapon out of the bullpen.
“There are a lot of positions still waiting to be filled,” Coach Sundlie said.
Keep an eye on sophomores Hudson Roberts (UTL) and Peyton Bullinger (OF), who both played varsity innings as freshmen. They could have more prominent roles this spring.
Roberts is a left-handed hitter who can play almost anywhere on the field. Bullinger is another lefty who possesses quality speed.
A third sophomore, Gannon Miller, will look to earn playing time at catcher or a corner infield spot.
No matter who’s on the field, the Tigers want to go full speed.
“I expect our guys to play aggressively,” he said. “Whether it’s hitting, pitching, baserunning or fielding, we want to be aggressive in everything we do. This gives us the best chance to be successful.”
Ozark begins the regular season March 17 at home against Jefferson City.
The Tigers figure to be in a tough district once again with the likes of Kickapoo, Nixa and Republic. Ozark hasn’t won a district championship since 2011.
“Our conference and district are filled with great teams, great players and coaches,” Coach Sundlie said. “For us to compete at this level, we will need to improve constantly and keep our focus on what we need to do every day in practice to get better.”
