Bartlesville baseball team nets 10th win at Bruin Classic

Bartlesville High School’s Bryce Luelf makes a play at home plate during the Bartlesville Patriot Bruin Classic at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium last weekend.

BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports

By Mike Tupa

March 31, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

The Bruins finished off another hectic week by hosting their annual classic last weekend.

Coming up this week, Bruin head coach Cody Price could reach his 100th career win. (See details below.) He amassed his 98th ‘W’ following the Bartlesville Patriot Bruin Classic at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

Bartlesville eyes another busy stretch the next five days — a road trip Monday to Norman, a home game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Norman, a home game at 5 p.m. Thursday against Booker T. Washington and a road game Friday at Coweta.

Following are game summaries from the Bruin Classic.

SAND SPRINGS 5, BARTLESVILLE 4 — Bruin hurlers Barrett Merciez and Sam Marcella couldn’t have done any more on Thursday to try to rescue the victory.

“Our pitching was excellent,” said Price. “We just didn’t make enough plays behind them.”

In fact, neither Bruin pitcher allowed an earned run.

The Bruin offense, meanwhile, did what should have been enough for Bartlesville to win — seven hits, led by Marcella with two hits and three RBI.

“Sam (a junior) has been playing lights out,” said Price, adding when not pitching Marcella has playing on the left side of the infield.

“He’s been playing an exceptional third base,” Price said. “I’m very proud of that kid.”

Damien Niko also added two hits. Niko is one of three full-impact seniors, along with Hunter Shea and Kaden Romesburg.

“We’re playing up to four sophomores,” Price said. “We’re not nearly as veteran a club as people think.”

“Damien has been playing well defensively,” and has been moved into the clean-up spot in the lineup, Price added.

BARTLESVILLE 5, PONCA CITY 1 — Shea twirled a mound gem while going the distance. Ponca City’s run was unearned, scored off an errant pick-off throw (by Shea) that opened the door for a runner to score from first in Friday’s Patriot Classic action.

Other than that, Shea was brilliant — only two hits and three walks allowed and 13 strikeouts recorded.

“Hunter was getting his breaking ball over the plate all day,” Price said.

Shea also excelled on offense, waving a sword of Damocles over Ponca City’s ill-fated hopes. Shea lashed a bases-loaded double for two RBI, contributed another base hit and scored a run. 

Shea advanced to third on Cy Rigdon’s single to set up the run.

Bartlesville batters also displayed a sharp eye by drawing nine walks.

BARTLESVILLE 13, HOLLAND HALL 7 — In what was a key win in many more ways than one, the Bruins rode an eight-run explosion in the first inning to a Saturday victory on the final day of the Patriot Classic. Bartlesville recorded a 4-1 record on the week and 6-2 in its last eight games.

Saturday’s win boosted the Bruins to 10 victories (10-7) prior to the end of March. With the whole month of April stretching ahead — after Monday’s final game of March — Bartlesville is just three wins shy of matching last year’s total and halfway to its fourth 20-win season in five years.

In addition, Price reached his 98th career win with Bartlesville — which means he could surpass 100 this week.

Playing a major role in win No. 98 was Carson Silva. He ripped three hits to lead Bartlesville’s nine-hit attack.

Romesburg added two hits and two walks and drove in two RBI.

Marcella continued his sizzling offensive weekend by contributing a hit and a RBI.

Six different Bruins notched hits and seven players produced at least one RBI each.

“We were pretty balanced,” said Price. “We also had more loud outs (powerful ball contact). I feel like this week we have improved offensively.”

On the mound, Cooper Swaim opened up with three shutout innings. Marcella answered the bell in relief in the fourth inning and finished up the final 3.1 frames. Marcella allowed three hits and two walks and no earned runs (two unearned).

Bryce Luelf caught all three games for the Bruins.

After breaking out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning — and later leading 10-0 — the Bruins withstood a six-run Holland Hall rally in the fourth and closed out with three more runs in the fifth.

Bartlesville High School’s Cy Rigdon makes a play at second base during the Bartlesville Patriot Bruin Classic at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium last weekend.

BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports