We had a fantastic time catching up with one of our absolute favorite longtime friends and partners of the show, Jeff Salyers from Play It Again Sports. If you’ve spent any time on the diamonds or fields around Southwest Missouri, you know exactly how vital Jeff is to our local sports scene. From outfitting competitive youth travel teams to supplying high schools and colleges like Drury University, they are the undisputed heartbeat of local gear. We sat down to chat about the massive evolution of bat technology, their legendary 33-year run in Springfield, and an incredible summer sale you won’t want to miss.

The Science of the Swing: Inside Modern Bat Tech

We wanted to know what has changed on the diamonds over the last few years, and Jeff broke down the tech beautifully. From one-piece and two-piece configurations to composite and alloy combinations, choosing the right bat is a true science. Jeff highlighted the popular Combat bats—a brand Missouri State University players famously relied on, prompting Jeff to track down specific builds as far away as Miami. He also dropped details on the newer end-loaded two-piece bats that are heavily favored by modern power hitters looking to drive the ball further.

A 33-Year Ozarks Legacy

Play It Again Sports isn’t just a local shop; it’s one of the largest locations by square foot and volume in the entire country, competing with massive markets like Boston. Jeff shared the story of cutting his teeth 33 years ago at the legendary Har-Bell. Today, he is serving second and third-generation families. That deep local support is what keeps the Springfield community thriving.

Outfitting the Perimeter and Prepping for Fall

Beyond bats and gloves, the store’s custom uniform side is absolutely booming. Right now, Jeff and his team of road salesmen are actively delivering football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and cheer gear to colleges, high schools, and homeschool teams across the region. They are also pushing hard on custom letter jackets for local and outlying schools. Jeff notes that right now is the prime window to order to avoid the massive September-through-November rush and guarantee your delivery well before Christmas.

Free Ice Cream & Deep Summer Discounts

To top off an amazing week, Play It Again Sports is hosting its massive summer sale through Sunday. Everything baseball and softball is 10% to 50% off, with blowout clearance tables hitting up to 75% off by the weekend. Best of all, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM is Highland Dairy Ice Cream Day! Stop by the store to grab a free ice cream sandwich or drumstick handed out by Mrs. Salyers herself—no purchase required, just pure community fun.