BARTLESVILLE BRUINS SWEEP UNION; HOST BRUIN CLASSIC THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Bartlesville High School’s Braden Neill (17) takes a throw from the pitcher during an earlier season game. The Bruins swept Tulsa Union and host the Bruin Classic on Thursday through Saturday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
March 26, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following a slippery start in its first 11 games, the Bartlesville High School baseball team appeared to gain some winning traction earlier this week.
The Bruins (6-7) made two late-inning bursts to come from behind to sweep Tulsa Union, 12-4, on Monday and 6-5, on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s frenetic thriller ended on a walk-off passed ball with Cy Rigdon blazing into home plate for the winning run.
Next up, Bartlesville plays host this week to its annual Bruin Classic, which will feature six teams.
On Thursday, the Bruins face Sapulpa at 11 a.m. Bartlesville will be back on the field Friday at 4 p.m. (Holland Hall) and 6:30 p.m. (Ponca City).
Veteran Bruin head coach Cody Price said the first third of this season has been “a mixed bag,” as far as how the Bruins have performed.
Adversity has played a role, also. First-year Bruin Tyler Neeley, who was being counted on as an important part of the pitching staff is dealing with an arm injury, Price said.
But despite ill fortune and inconsistency in past games, Price perceives a reboot.
“I feel like we’re starting to swing it better now,” he said, referring to the sweep of Tulsa Union were ‘two good wins for us.”
As well as being two slobberknockers of climatic endings.
On Monday, the Bruins walloped Tulsa Union, 12-4.
Easy, right?
WRONG.
Bartlesville trailed after five innings, 4-3, but punished the ball in the sixth inning to score eight more runs.
The key moment of the uprising took place when, in a bunting situation, Bruin hitter Braden Neill surprised Union by taking a full cut for a crucial hit.
The Bruin offense belted nine hits among eight players, two of them by Sam Hill. Bryce Luelf — who Price said is blossoming as the everyday catcher — contributed three RBI.
In addition, Bartlesville drew seven walks, including three by Wyatt Mathis. Neill and Barrett Merciez each were hit by a pitch.
Sophomore D.J. Thornton earned the pitching win. He allowed only three hits and no runs in the final 4.2 innings.
“This was big for a sophomore in a district game,” Price said. “D.J. had to throw a couple of big zeroes.”
In Tuesday’s 6-5 extra-inning win, “Sam Marcella did an unbelievable job on the mound,” said Price. “He came in for the final 3.2 innings and did not give up a run. … He threw some serious pressure pitches.”
The Bruins trailed, 5-3, when Marcella came in, and he pitched through two bases-loaded jams plus a scoreless eighth, Price noted.
Kanin Romesburg topped the Bruin offense with two hits and two RBI, while Hill delivered a vital RBI in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into overtime.
Rigdon’s swift legs ended it in the eighth.