DAVID AUSTIN: A FIRST PITCH FOR A FRIEND IN THE PRESS BOX IN THE SKY
From left, David Austin and Bob Pomeroy react during the first pitch during Mike Tupa Night before the Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians’ first home game on June 10. Austin, Pomeroy and Becky Burch were all included in the opening ceremonines.
MIA MERCIEZ/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By David Austin
June 18, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
As we walked across the first baseline and toward the middle of the field, Bob Pomeroy asked me a question.
“Are you going to throw from the pitching mound?”
Bob and I were walking with Becky Burch, each of us there to be part of a “first pitch” ceremony at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium prior to the host Indians’ baseball home opener on June 11. The ceremony was bittersweet. It was part of an overarching salute to Mike Tupa, who for 30 years was the heart and soul of sports reporting in Bartlesville, first with the Examiner-Enterprise and in recent years with the Bartlesville Area Sports Report.
“I think I’ll just throw from the front of the mound,” I replied to Bob.
In my mind, I was just hoping that I didn’t bounce my pitch in front of the catcher or sail it over his head. And, being a few feet closer to home plate would only help in that regard.
The night was shaping up to be special. As a tip of their collective caps to Mike, the Indians were playing his favorite songs during breaks in the action and making some of his favorite foods available at the concession areas. As we were being introduced prior to throwing out the first pitch, a passage from Mike’s yet unpublished autobiography was shared. It spoke to the way Mike went about his business and ultimately to what made him great.
“To me, they were all stars – all the kids I covered were stars in their realm. That’s how I evaluated sports – not as a hierarchy of ability and talent with pro and college participants being the ultimate athletes and a 13-year-old summer league baseball player having inferior talent. But I see sports as sovereign on each level. To me, the first-ever hit by an overjoyed Little Leaguer is just as significant to the sports gods as an Aaron Judge homer.”
We lost Mike on April 7. And while Mike had been in declining health for the past several months, the news was still a shock. It was Bob, who had been a great friend to Mike, who let us know. Becky and I had known Mike since our days of all working together at the Examiner-Enterprise, where Mike and I started in 1996. Mike and I comprised the sports department at the E-E, while Becky was a tremendous photographer, covering all elements of the news – including sports.
Bob had known Mike for years and was instrumental in getting him an esteemed honor which he richly deserved – induction into the Bartlesville Sports Commission’s Hall of Fame. That 2019 ceremony was special for Mike, and his beloved sister Pam made the trip from Utah to bear witness to his induction. Legendary Barnsdall coach Joe Gilbert was there to support Mike as well.
After Mike retired from the Examiner-Enterprise, he went on to form the Bartlesville Area Sports Report with Becky. The Bartlesville Area Sports Report carries on Mike’s commitment to honoring area athletes.
When I arrived at the stadium for the first-pitch ceremony, I was reminded of all the days I had spent there covering baseball games for the Examiner-Enterprise – often alongside Mike. We would often tag team long tournaments such as the annual Glen Winget Memorial Tournament, which would take place around the Fourth of July holiday and would involve multiple teams. When I walked out to the grandstands behind home plate and saw the field open up in front of me, I was whisked back to those days. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the press box at the top of the grandstands, a place I had spent a lot of time with Mike as we broke down all that had taken place during a given game.
Those times will always be special to me.
When it came time to throw out our ceremonial first pitches, both Becky and I came close enough to our targets. While Bob decided not to throw out a pitch, Becky and I appreciated him for being out there with us. I know Mike was there, too. Becky pointed toward the sky in acknowledgement.
After we had made our pitches, the respective catchers who caught them congratulated Becky and I. She asked for the players to sign her ball, and I should have done likewise but didn’t think about it in the moment. Still, all the moments which made up that special evening at Doenges Stadium are ones that I will long remember and always cherish.
From left, Becky Burch and David Austin walk off the Spence Rigdon Field at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium after throwing out the first pitch during Mike Tupa Night prior to the Doenges Toyota Indians’ first home game on June 10. Tupa, a longtime sports reporter and editor, passed away on April 7.
MIA MERCIEZ/Bartlesville Area Sports Report