Bartlesville Bruins burst to 2-1 record in Alabama tourney
The Bartlesville High School baseball team prepares to leave for Alabama last weekend. The Bruins went 2-1 on Monday and Tuesday in the Gulf Coast Classic.
PHOTO PROVIDED
By Mike Tupa
March 19, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Alabama has been sweet home away from home for the Bartlesville High School baseball team.
The Bruins have opened this week’s Gulf Coast Classic with a 2-1 record — suffering their only defeat to down home Oklahoma opponent Wright City, the defending Class A state champion from last autumn.
Bartlesville (6-5) closes out its Alabama tourney at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Following are details from the Bruins’ games Monday and Tuesday.
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TUESDAY: Wright City 8, Bartlesville 4
Wright City put a five-run bite in the first inning on Bartlesville and held off a scrappy Bruin rally.
“They jumped on Hunter (Shea) early,” said Bruin head coach Cody Price. “Hunter did a good job of settling early and keeping us in the game.”
Kanin Romesburg eventually replaced Shea on the mound and also threw well, the coach added.
Bartlesville pitching also had to overcome the paralyzing effect of five errors.
On the offensive side, Romesburg also scored three of Bartlesville’s four runs; Cooper Swaim swarmed home for the other tally.
Sam Marcella lashed two hits.
“We had only four hits, but we had some really competitive at-bats,” said Price. “Wright City has a really good squad.”
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TUESDAY: Bartlesville 3, Charles Henderson (Ala.) 1
Price put the ball in the hand of Barrett Merciez to start the game on the mound.
Merciez, who has been battling injury this season, gutted it out for three innings before Marcella finished up the final four innings in relief.
“Sam has done a good job of coming in for us,” said Price. “He’s had a couple of really good games here.”
During his stint in this game, Marcella allowed only two hits and one run. He and Merciez combined for 11 strikeouts.
Belting one hit each for Bartlesville were Romesburg, Shea, Merciez and Cy Rigdon.
“We’re starting to be more competitive at the plate,” said Price. “If anything, we need to find more consistency.”
An unsung hero Tuesday was Bryce Luelf, who caught both games, Price explained.
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MONDAY: Bartlesville 9, Greenbriar (Ark.) 2
Kaden Romesburg twirled a mound gem for six innings until Marcella wrapped up the win with a scoreless seventh inning.
Price scooped an extra helping of praise on his offense, which produced double-digit hits.
Kanin Romesburg energized the hitting brigade with his three-hit, two-RBI performance. Marcella added two hits and two RBI. Kaden Romesburg and Luelf tacked on one RBI apiece.
“We’ve swung it better the last couple of games,” Price said. “We still need to limit our strikeouts.”
After returning from Alabama, the Bruins will enjoy a few days off to heal and refocus before hosting Northwest Classen in a doubleheader on March 24 at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.
The Bruin Classic is scheduled for March 27-29.