BRUINS STAY HOT WITH 11-3 WIN OVER COWETA; PUTNAM CITY NORTH UP NEXT
Bartlesville High School’s catcher Braden Neill (17) reacts after narrowly missing a pop-up near the Bruins dugout last Friday in Bartlesville as head coach Cody Price (center) looks on. The Bruins defeated Coweta 11-3.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School shortstop Kanin Romesburg (6) attempts to apply a tag at second base during last Friday's game against Coweta in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Coweta 11-3.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
April 27, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Bartlesville Bruins (16-15) used a mid-game offensive surge and a three-run fifth inning to defeat Coweta 11-3 in a run-rule victory Friday.
After the teams ended the first inning tied 2-2, the Bartlesville bats came alive in the second and third frames. The Bruins scored six runs during that stretch to build an 8-2 lead. Coweta managed to score one run in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 8-3, but the Bruins responded in the bottom half to end the contest early.
Bryce Luelf sparked the final rally with a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth. Braden Neill then reached on an error to move Luelf to second, with Cy Rigdon entering to pinch-run for Neill. Gavin Thomas followed with a bunt into a fielder’s choice, but an error allowed both Luelf and Rigdon to score. Thomas, who reached third on the miscue, later scored on a Sam Marcella fielder's choice to trigger the run rule.
Sterling Kroh earned the win on the mound, striking out two and allowing three earned runs on six hits over 4.2 innings before Kanin Romesburg came in for relief.
The Bruins finished with 10 hits in the contest. Neill led the way, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a double. Thomas also finished with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBIs, a double, and two stolen bases. Sam Hill added a hit and two RBIs, while Luke Massey finished 2-for-3. Marcella and Brett Merciez each recorded a stolen base in the win.
Recently, the Bruins split a series with Bixby and earned wins over Holland Hall, Tahlequah, and Muskogee.
Bartlesville returns to action Monday with a 4:30 p.m. road game at Putnam City North (3-25). Putnam City North will then travel to Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. contest. Bartlesville travels to Class 5A Claremore (21-10) on Thursday at 5 p.m. before closing the regular season at home May 1 against Booker T. Washington, a team they defeated 15-1 earlier this season.
Bartlesville High School pitcher Sterling Kroh (8) attempts a play at home plate during last Friday’s home game against Coweta. The Bruins defeated Coweta 11-3.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports