PANTHERS POUNCE: BARNSDALL SWEEPS MOUNDS FOR DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
The Barnsdall Panthers captured the Class A1 District Championship Thursday, sweeping Mounds 10-9 and 13-0.
Courtesy photo
By Becky Burch
April 24, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS
The No. 17 Barnsdall Panthers secured the Class A1 District Championship on Thursday, sweeping Mounds in a high-stakes doubleheader that opened with a hard-fought 10-9 victory.
The Panthers (16-13-1) scored in every inning of the first contest to stay ahead of a persistent Mounds offense. Barnsdall established its first lead in the bottom of the second inning when Jax Marin hit a three-run home run over the left-field fence, scoring Kayden Francis and Dayton Perkins to make it 4-1.
Both teams traded two runs in the third inning, allowing the Panthers to maintain a 6-3 lead. Mounds narrowed the gap in the fourth by outscoring Barnsdall 2-1, moving the score to 7-5. After a scoreless top of the fifth for Mounds, Barnsdall added a run to extend its advantage to 8-5. Both sides plated two runs in the sixth, keeping the Panthers ahead 10-7 heading into the final frame. Mounds mounted a late rally in the seventh, but the Barnsdall defense limited the damage to two runs to secure the 10-9 victory.
Lincoln Gott earned the win on the mound, striking out eight batters across four innings of work. The game-one lineup featured strong individual performances from Gavin Wood, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Tripp Barbee, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Barnsdall secured the district title in the nightcap with a 13-0 shutout of Mounds, sparked by an eight-run first inning featuring a home run by Gott to score Wood. The Panthers added five more runs in the fifth to seal the win.
Andrew Cole threw a dominant no-hitter, while the offense was powered by Wood (2-for-2, 3 R) and Braxten Willis (2-for-2). Additional contributions came from Marin, Gott, Cole, and Derek Robbins, while Francis, Barbee, Cole, and Wood kept the pressure on with stolen bases.
The Panthers are led by coach Ryan Gott.