by Bronson Ruston
The Ozark Hillbilly baseball team dropped games against Dardanelle and Pottsville in conference action last week.
Dardanelle
Dardanelle erupted for 15 runs in the third inning on the way to a 26-0 rout of Ozark (4-3, 2-2) on Tuesday, March 31.
The Sand Lizards opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first, then pushed their lead to 6-0 after plating four more in the second. Their massive third inning broke the game wide open, and they added five more in the fourth to cap the scoring.
JaKsen Ross started on the mound for Ozark, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) in one inning of work. The Hillbillies turned to four pitchers in relief.
Cade Capp recorded Ozark’s only hit, finishing one-for-two at the plate.
Pottsville
Pottsville pulled away after a tight early stretch to defeat Ozark 6-1 on Wednesday, April 1.
The Hillbillies struck first in the second inning when Bladen Lowrance singled to drive in Capp for a 1-0 lead. Pottsville answered in the third to tie the game, then moved ahead 3-1 in the fourth.
Pottsville added insurance with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Ross went the distance for Ozark, allowing seven hits and six runs over seven innings while striking out five and walking four.
Ross and Capp each had two hits.
Read this story and others in the April 8 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.
Ozark second baseman John Skolarski watches the action during the Hillbillies’ game against Dardanelle on March 31.
