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The News-Leader released their All-Ozarks Baseball teams over a week ago. And I struggled with mentioning it because, as with all the News-Leaders All-Ozarks team, it was heavily slanted to the immediate Springfield area and to the larger schools. Of the thirteen players named on the first team, only four are not from Springfield and the adjoining communities. And only three are from schools that are not class 4. So I didn’t feel it was truly deserving of being called an “All-Ozarks” team.
I finally remembered though that every poll is affected by personal preference or bias. Since the larger schools have larger populations, they should have a larger percentage of selections on teams that cross all classes. But more importantly, the News-Leader polls local coaches for selection of these teams. It only stands to reason that they will vote for more of their own players. As the old saying goes ‘every old crow thinks hers is the blackest’.
So without further delay, here’s the team. Check out the News-Leaders full article for stats and information.
All-Ozarks Baseball Team
First Team
Pitchers
- Ethan Mather, JR, Ozark
- Chris Barratt, SR, Hillcrest
- Mike Kickham, SR,
- Landon Widhalm, SR, Lebanon
Catcher
- Brett Marshall, SR, Glendale
Infielders
- Beau Harris, SR, Lebanon
- Casey Goss, JR, Glendale
- Brett Neill, SR, Ozark
- Chance Sossamon, SR, Webb City
Outfielders
- Levi Presley, SR, Ozark
- Derek Harwell, SR, Ozark
- Tyler Hartley, SR, Willard
- Dan Kickham, SR, Glendale
Utility
- Cory Kyle, SR, Stoutland
Second team
Pitchers
- Tyler Abma, JR, Miller
- Zak Porath, SR, Carl Junction
- Willie Hoey, SR, Kickapoo
- David Gilley, JR, Blue Eye
Catcher
- Sam Adams, JR, Forsyth
Infielders
- Shayne Hoke, SR, Joplin
- Blake Weaver, JR Parkview
- Ryne Armstrong, SR, Ozark
- Josh Maynard, SR, Kickapoo
Outfielders
- John Adams, SR, Parkview
- Curtis Lohkamp, SR, Kickapoo
- Landon Jarrett, JR, Mansfield
- Chris Sartin, SR, Rogersville
