The Ozarks high school sports landscape is about to see the end of an era. This weekend marks the final games for Willard Tigers baseball head coach Scott McGee, who is transitioning into an administrative role at Republic starting next school year. But before he hangs up his uniform, he has some unfinished business at the Class 5 state semifinals. We caught up with Scotty on The Starting Lineup to talk about his farewell tour, the deep connection he shares with this team, and what it’s going to take to bring another state championship back to Willard.

The Defending Champs and the Class 5 Matchup

We kicked things off by breaking down Willard’s Friday night semifinal opponent: Platte County. This isn’t just any regular matchup; these two programs have combined to win four state titles since COVID, splitting them right down the middle with two apiece. Platte County is battle-tested, having played a brutal schedule that included two games against Nixa. While they lost star player Rocco Marriott to early enrollment at Central Florida, they still carry Class 5 Player of the Year Brennan McLaughlin, an Oral Roberts commit who sits 90-94 MPH on the mound. To counter their ace, Coach McGee confirmed he is handing the ball to Levi Hilton, the Tigers’ senior leader who is bound for Missouri Southern.

Navigating the Elements at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex

One massive advantage for the Tigers is that the state tournament is right in our backyard. However, the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex features new turf and unique, spacious dimensions that completely shift a coach’s tactical approach. Coach McGee noted that outfielders have to play noticeably deeper to prevent line drives from turning into inside-the-park home runs. Offensively, the ball doesn’t carry as well through the air, forcing Willard to emphasize low line drives and hard ground balls.

Public vs. Private and the Risk-Taking Mentality

Our listener text line brought up the age-old debate regarding public versus private school alignment in state tournaments, especially with St. Dominic and Chaminade College Prep looming on the other side of the bracket. Coach McGee gave us a refreshingly candid answer, noting that while private schools certainly have an advantage, he prefers keeping them in the mix because it preserves the ultimate prestige of earning a Missouri state title. Known as a natural risk-taker, McGee is ready to utilize deep bullpen strategies and aggressive plays to send his 12 seniors—including his son, Jarrett—out on top.