BHS BASEBALL REPORT: BRUINS FALL TO CHICKASHA; BEGINS PRYOR FESTIVAL
Bartlesville High School’s Cy Rigdon (5) makes a play at second base during an earlier season game. The Bruins fell to Chickasha 6-2 on Thursday. They take on Marlow in the Pryor Festival today.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
April 11, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
There might be two ways to look at Thursday’s loss to 6-2 loss to the Chickasha Fighting Chicks (16-5).
First, despite some sloppy defense and shortage of hits, the Bartlesville Bruins (14-9) gave themselves a chance to pluck one from the Chicks.
On the other hand, the Bruins dropped a winnable opportunity for the second time in three games this week.
From whatever angle one chooses to look at it, the bottom line is the Bruins will be battling hard Friday to avoid what could be their first losing week this season.
They take on Marlow — last year’s Class 4A state champion — at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pryor Festival.
Bruin head coach Cody Price just wants to see his charges play better Friday, win or lose.
“You don’t beat yourself. If you lose you let the other teams beat you,” he said.
The Bruins kept Thursday’s contest close most of the way even though “we just didn’t play very well,” Price said, noting the Bruins produced only three hits on offense and made five costly miscues on defense, even though they weren’t all official errors.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Bruins scrapped back to tie the score.
In the bottom of the second, Barrett Merciez hit a grounder with two outs and prolonged the play in a rundown that gave Cooper Swaim an opportunity to score from third.
An inning later, Damien Niko singled home Kaden Romesburg to knot the game, 2-2.
But Chickasha finished up with four unanswered runs.
“Every time you get a chance to make an out, you’ve got to make an out,” Price said.
Sterling Kroh started on the bump for Bartlesville and gave up only two earned runs (along with three unearned) while walking three and striking out three.
Jaxon Zaun and Sam Marcella took turns in relief. Marcella struck out four batters in two innings.
Price plans to tab Hunter Shea as his starter Friday against Marlow.