Here’s a roundup of zone prep baseball action from earlier in the week. Team listed is college unless otherwise stated.
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Bartlesville
Not that Bartlesville High’s baseball program floated aimlessly in the doldrums before head coach Cody Price arrived.
But, during the third-year skipper’s tenure, the team gained momentum towards a more promising shore.
On Tuesday, the Bruins wiped out Booker T. Washington, 14-3, to improve to 13-7 for the season.
On a related note, that triumph also lifted Price to 40 career wins (40-26) in what is, in fact, just over two seasons. (Only eight games were played in 2020, due to the general shutdown of spring sports across the state in response to COVID.)
Over the past season and this one, the Bruins are 37-21 — and they’re going into the rest of this season with momentum going.
Bartlesville is 10-3 in its last 13 games after sweeping Tulsa Washington 7-0, 14-3 earlier this week.
In this last victory, if the baseball had lips, it would have said only one word: “Ouch!”
Bartlesville had 10 more hits — including three home runs, each by a different hitter — in one of the Bruins’ most impressive displays of power in years.
Mason Moody continued his batting tear by hitting a homer (solo) and a triple.
Nik Johnson unloaded with nuclear-like power – a home run, a double and two singles, which produced three RBIs and three runs scored.
There’s only one Henry Aaron in baseball history, but Zeb Henry could have been an honorary “Hammerin’ Henry” by winning a home run and three singles while racking up three RBIs and two runs scored.
And, Moody, Johnson and Henry combined to just spearhead Bartlesville’s offensive tsunami.
Brendan Asher, Davis Chancellor, Harrison Clark, Brett Eaves and Eric Olenberger were also explosive doubles.
Simply put, eight different Bruins delivered at least one multi-base hit.
Bartlesville finished with 20 total hits.
Nine Bruin hitters accounted for 14 RBIs. In addition to the six between Johnson and Henry, Olenberger had two points. Olenberger also went 3 for 4 at the plate.
Chancellor, Moody and Asher each had two hits.
As the offense stifled the Hornets, Bradee Rigdon took over most of Bartlesville’s pitching dominance.
The senior southpaw went 5.2 innings on three hits, with three runs and four walks. He sniffed out 12 batters – an average of more than two per inning.
Henry finished on the mound recording the final on a strikeout to crush the Hornets’ last rally effort.
Both Cole Cruchon and Isaac Fain drove in a race for Tulsa Washington.
“We played well tonight,” Price said Tuesday.
In reference to the homers’ rare display of power, he said Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium/Rigdon Field was not a homerun-friendly facility.
“Our park is playing really big,” he said. “It’s 340 on the lines. A lot of the balls we hit in our park would go to the warning track or other ballparks.
Along with racking up wins No. 12 and No. 13, the Tulsa Washington sweep also provided the Bruins with two crucial wins in the district, Price said.
“I tell my boys, 6A wins are hard to come by and District wins are hard to come by.”
Regarding his milestone of 40 wins, Price noted how he crossed the state to become the head coach of the Bruins.
“I feel like I was welcomed with open arms,” he said. “The boys were coachable and able to buy. I’m proud that we have 26 players across the program (13 college, 13 junior college) and that we’re able to go out and compete with programs with 50 -plus boys.I am proud of the character of the young men I meet.
He also praised the Tulsa Washington pitcher’s performance in Bartlesville’s 7-0 win.
“This kid…did a great job,” Price said. “We saw a very good arm. … He got his break ball on the plate as consistently as anyone we’ve seen this year.
Next, the Bruins play in the Coweta Tournament. On Thursday, the Bruins will face Class A mega-power Red Oak and an ever-dangerous Tulsa NOAH team.
The Bruins face off Friday with tournament host Coweta.
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Caney Valley
That growing rumble you hear in southern Washington County is not a bison rush.
It’s the heart-rending, ground-pounding, bullet-striking momentum of the Trojan diamond warriors of Caney Valley.
On Tuesday, the Trojans earned their seventh and eight straight wins with double-digit dustings of Pawhuska, 16-2 and 13-2.
Caney Valley – who is coached by Andy Fox – has now had 10 or more runs in six of his last seven contests.
In Tuesday’s opener, Caney Valley took a 7-0 lead in the first set and took the decision 16-2.
Daniel Barham homered and singled and drove in three runs to energize the offense by 12 hits. Rocky Hester added a double, a single and three RBIs.
Haden Fiddler tripled, singled twice and scored three runs, while Ethan Nichols doubled and scored twice.
Jacky Black added two RBIs without a hit.
Easton Davis also scored two points.
Barham, Tanner Ryan and Davis take turns pitching. Barham hasn’t allowed a hit or earned run in 2.0 innings.
Channler Moen recorded an RBI for Pawhuska. Canyon Hindman and Connor Easley each scored. Easley also stole three bases.
Pawhuska starter Wyatt Dagenais allowed just three earned runs (seven unearned).
The nightcap followed a similar script.
The Trojans took a 4-0 lead in the first set and never looked back.
Barham doubled and drove in one run; Dalton Conner, Black and Ryan each completed two runs.
Nichols added two singles. Bryer Kramer contributed two scored runs and Tate Longan drove in a run.
Black hasn’t allowed a hit in three innings on the bump. He withdrew six. Fiddler finished in relief.
Connor Easley drove in a race for Pawhuska. Hindman and John Reed each scored a point.
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Bartlesville Jay
The Bruins sweated the 11-1 victory Tuesday against Booker T. Washington.
Not that it was a close game – but Bartlesville worked up a lot of sweat running around the bases.
Jaxon Zaun zapped a double and two singles and kicked off a run.
Hunter Shea added a double and a single, while Thatcher Parker doubled and scored.
Damien Niko added a single and two RBIs.
Grant Clark scored two runs.
Shea threw the distance, busting a four-hitter and sniffing out 10 hitters.
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Dewey
The Doggers (6-10) came back from Monday’s 6-1 loss to Cleveland to emerge 8-6 on Tuesday against Cleveland.
Dewey also recorded his first road victory in a district game in April.
The Doggers – who are coached by Rod Richardson – have scored eight or more points for the third time in their last five games.
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In a fiery showdown Thursday between the two county rivals, WCS won both games, 15-1 and 7-4.
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