If it weren't for the rain Friday evening, Ballparks National — the destination baseball complex at Lake of the Ozarks — would likely have been destroyed.
Photos shared by BPN staff on Saturday morning reveal the complex's fields were completely surrounded by fire before the rain hit. The grassy areas behind many of the outfield fences are completely charred, and Saturday morning's photos reveal still-smoldering trees. The only damage, BPN Asst. General Manager Keith Lucas said, was from the high winds, which tore some banners loose.
Fires ravaged Lake of the Ozarks on March 14, 2025. A major baseball complex came within inches of going up in flames.
Lucas said staff were told to evacuate as fires ripped through fields and forests on Friday. "The highway patrol told us we had to leave because the fire was uncontrollable," Lucas said. He added he wasn't sure whether firefighters ever made it out to the complex, but he said ultimately the saving grace was the rain.
Lucas mused, "It's proof that God is a baseball fan."
To learn more about Ballparks National and view this season's tournament schedule, visit BallparksNational.com
