ROUNDUP TO STATE: DEWEY CAPTURES HISTORIC 30TH WIN, PUNCHES FIRST STATE TICKET IN 12 YEARS
Dewey High School outfielders Nate Sloan (22) and Eddie Rice (5) head to the dugout after the final out of the inning during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers are Class 3A Area Champions and play in the state tournament on Thursday in Norman.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Dewey High School head coach Riley Allen (right) talks with batters Easton Davis (10) and Parker Garrison (8) during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers are Class 3A Area Champions and play in the state tournament on Thursday in Norman.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
May 12, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
(Author’s Note: I promised I wouldn’t try to write like Mike, but for a win this historic, I couldn’t resist a go at a "Tupa-style" lead. He is either smiling down on me right now or rolling his eyes — possibly both.)
In a town where the “Bulldogger” name was forged in the dirt and grit of the 1908 Dewey Roundup, the 2025-2026 baseball team showed that same steer wrestling mettle last Friday. Despite playing on the home diamond of No. 7-ranked Stigler, the No. 10 Bulldoggers hooked a horn, dug in their heels, and secured an 8-4 victory. The win rounded up a Class 3A State berth—the program’s first in 12 years—and officially branded this historic season with win No. 30.
(Author’s Note: Whew! I’ll leave the award-winning metaphors to the master. Homage complete—Now, back to my own speed and the facts of the matter!)
Dewey (30-9) starts its state journey Thursday against No. 2 Washington (30-7) at 6:30 p.m. at Norman North High School in a single-elimination bracket. If the Doggers win, they’ll take on the winner of No. 3 Silo (31-6) and No. 7 Davis (30-9) Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Other teams in the eight-team tourney are No. 1 Marlow (34-4), No. 11 Jones (24-15), No. 5 Lincoln Christian (32-6) and No. 4 Oklahoma Christian School (26-7).
Washington is a four-peat Class 3A champion, defeating Marlow 10-5 last season to capture the crown.
In their area tournament, Washington swept Victory Christian 6-5 in extra innings and 6-0. At the beginning of April, Dewey and Victory Christian met, with Dewey taking the first game 6-4 and the Conquerors taking the second game 5-3.
Dewey has yet to win a state championship title but has made several appearances, including its 2014 run, where the team reached the final, losing to Tuttle 4-3.
With seven seniors and several returning starters on Dewey head coach Riley Allen’s roster, he said it was hard to point out one player as a standout.
“One through nine in our lineup can be our best player on any given day,” Allen said.
A veteran core anchored the Bulldoggers' postseason run, led by seniors Nate Sloan, Parker Garrison, Layne Gastel, Lathe Griggs, Eddie Rice, Karson Johnson, and Easton Davis, who provided the vital leadership and experience necessary for the championship series. Complementing this senior core was a group of consistent, high-impact contributors, including Jay Murgia, Jackson Fox, Levi Wilson, Tucker Williams, Chase Miller, and Mason Snellgrove, who routinely drove daily offensive production and defensive reliability. The championship run was fully supported by a deep bench, including Austin Eastman, Braxton Braden, Case Rogers, Cade Chronister, Issac Martin, Jesse Inlow, John Davis, Ethan Unkenholz, Tysen Williams, Jaxon Tennison, and Blake Sanders.
“Our seniors have set the standard for our team all year,” said Allen. “They have done a great job of leading by example to show the underclassmen what it takes to win games at this level.”
Allen said he knew his team had what it takes to get to the state tournament early in the season at Metro Christian, when the Doggers were down nine runs going into the top of the seventh inning.
“We scored 10 runs that inning to win 13-12,” said Allen. “That’s when I saw those kids never quit.”
Making it back to the state tournament and getting a 30-win season has been a long haul for the Doggers, but Allen says they are ready.
“I’m really happy for these kids. They work hard, and they deserve to be a part of this school’s history,” Allen said.
_____
Dewey High School’s third baseman Parker Garrison (8) throws to first base during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers are Class 3A Area Champions and play in the state tournament on Thursday in Norman.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
_____
CLASS 3A AREA CHAMPIONSHIP
Dewey 8, Stigler 4
Following their split in the first two games of the series last Thursday, where Dewey took the doubleheader 3-1, the Bulldoggers secured an 8-4 victory over Stigler in the Class 3A Area Championship last Friday.
The decisive momentum shifted in the third inning when Gastel homered to left field, driving in two runs to give Dewey a 3-1 lead.
The Bulldoggers extended that cushion to 6-1 in the fourth, though Stigler narrowed the gap to 6-3 in the top of the fifth. Dewey responded in the bottom of the sixth; after Davis and Sloan both singled to put runners in scoring position, Gastel’s sacrifice fly scored Davis, and Fox followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 8-3. Stigler managed one final run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
The Dewey offense was powered by several standout individual performances. Murgia went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and Davis matched that scoring effort, finishing 2-for-4. Garrison added a key RBI double in his two at-bats, scoring once. The heart of the order proved particularly dangerous, as the No. 5 and 6 hitters combined for six RBIs; Gastel finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a run, while Fox went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
On the mound, Griggs earned the win, striking out four and allowing just one run on three hits over four innings, while Gastel provided relief, striking out one and surrendering three runs on three hits.
_____
Dewey High School’s Tucker Williams (25) after reaching second base during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers are Class 3A Area Champions and play in the state tournament on Thursday in Norman.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
_____
STATE TOURNAMENT SEND-OFF
To celebrate the program's first state appearance in 12 years, the team will receive a formal police escort provided by the Dewey Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. A public send-off is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the indoor baseball field. Elementary school students will line up at the playground fence. Middle School and High School students not taking finals will be by the football field. The team will be escorted south on Highway 75 to Atwoods.
_____
POTENTIAL GRADUATION CHANGE
In light of the team's success, Dewey Public Schools has announced a contingency plan for this week’s graduation ceremonies. If Dewey wins its Thursday night game, it will advance to the state semifinals held Friday. Should the team advance, Friday’s graduation ceremonies will be moved to the weekend to allow students, families, and the community to support the Bulldoggers. The school district will communicate the final plan late Thursday evening via official channels immediately following the conclusion of the baseball game.
