BLAST FROM THE PAST: 1987 and 1995
By Mike Tupa
Nov. 5, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following are summaries of sporting events in the Bartlesville area from the past:
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JULY 1987
It was the year the Bartlesville Doenges Ford Indians woke the roosters up.
Bolstered by Jerry Henshall’s two-run double and Jeff Shelton’s six-plus innings of pitching, the Indians — who back then were known as the Injuns — smashed Springfield (Mo.), 12-4, in the decisive game of the Glen Winget Memorial Baseball Tournament.
The kicker?
Due to rain delays the game didn’t start at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium (then known as Bartlesville Municipal Athletic Field/Stadium) until 1:30 a.m. — and wrapped up about 3:30 a.m.
Organizers decided to make up for postponements by playing 24 hours straight of baseball. The Indians captured their first Winget crown since 1979. The Indians scored six runs in the third inning. Harold Eastman led off by being hit with a pitch. Delivering base hits in the inning were Matt McCoy, Doug Goetzinger, Henshall and Darin Sanderson. Sanderson would be named the tourney MVP (.556, 9 RBI, 2 2Bs, HR, 3 Rs).
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SEPTEMBER 1995
For the first time in three seasons Bartlesville football fans could celebrate a victory. Leelend Walker scored on a three-yard plunge to lift the Bruins past Tulsa Washington — in a monumental upset — by a 10-7 score. Bartlesville was on a 25-game losing streak going into this contest, having gone 0-10 in both 1993 and 1994. Jacky Manning kicked both the extra point and a 28-yard field goal for the winning margin. Wes Barnhart rushed for 31 yards on 14 carries. Washington outgained Bartlesville, 298-97, but the Bruins still slogged to the victory. A roughing-the-quarterback penalty had kept the late winning touchdown drive — which had been set up by an interception — alive.
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SEPTEMBER 1995
Jim Fish returned a punt 72 yards to help Nowata upend Chouteau, 36-35, in the district football opener.