BARTLESVILLE LADY BRUINS ARE HEADED TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT
Bartlesville High School’s Lola Redington (20) reacts during regionals, which were hosted by Bartlesville earlier this week. The Lady Bruins are heading to the state tournament on October 16.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Oct. 10, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Some dreams are easy.
Some dreams are difficult.
Some dreams require every bit of hard work, faith in oneself and others, preparation, determination and that immeasurable ethereal essence called je ne sais quoi.
The Lady Bruin softball team of Bartlesville High is living the latter.
Following a pair of gutsy victories in the Class 6A regionals — one of which where they had to come back from a 6-0 deficit — the Lady Bruins are headed to state!
Last year their season ground to a halt in the quarterfinals. This year, they’ve got a little higher finish in mind.
Either way, Bartlesville has given itself a path to reach the top of the mountain. Sometimes that's the hardest step of all in fulfilling one’s dream.
With several returnees back from last year’s state tourney team, “I think those girls know what to expect,” said veteran Bartlesville head coach Kyle Minton. “They talk about that state experience quite a bit. They know how to handle this situation. … It helps on how to handle adversity, knowing what that moment is like, what it feels like.”
Bartlesville displayed at this week’s regional — which it hosted — every bit of grit and perseverance needed to rise to the challenge.
As mentioned, on Wednesday the Lady Bruins rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win, 7-6, in the semifinals.
“They kind of punched us in the face early,” Minton said about Enid’s early lead.
Minton’s girls found a way to win and move into Friday’s regional.
They met Enid again and slogged to a 4-1 victory to clinch a trip to Enid.
Minton is happy his Lady Bruins were challenged in the regional by Enid.
“They were definitely the kind of team we wanted to face,” he said.
For one thing, Enid boasts a high velocity pitcher that proved an obstacle the Lady Bruins had to learn to deal with.
Second, “Enid was very athletic,” Minton said. “I think last year when we went through the regional, we kind of breezed through it. … Enid was definitely a stronger opponent.”
Bartlesville had to dig deep to sweep Enid in the regional — a quality Minton hopes carries through to state.
In Friday’s regional final, the Lady Bruins burst to a 4-0 lead in the second inning — bolstered by Savannah Alden’s three-run double. Scoring on her scorcher were Maddie Czaja, Lydia Daniels and Erin Bridendolph. Earlier in the inning, Czaja drove home Josie Childers on a ground out.
Throughout her high school career, Alden has “come up big in key moments,” Minton said. “Today she had that double for the separation to put us up four runs.”
Alden finished with three hits, followed by Bridendolph with a single and a double. Czaja and Jazmyne Campbell each contributed a sacrifice bunt.
Allison Rosson hurled the complete-game four-hitter for the Lady Bruins.
Rosson came on strong in the middle innings to shut down Enid’s middle of the order their second time through the batting order, Minton noted.
Rosson and Kelsie Yales provided Bartlesville a big one-two punch as starting pitchers.
Bartlesville High School’s Kelsie Yales (18) pitches to an Enid batter on Tuesday during regionals in Bartlesville. The Lady Bruins defeated Enid twice to earn a spot in the state tournament.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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“They’re very different, they give you different looks,” Minton said about the pair. “If we go and play defense, and we swing it, our pitchers are going to keep us in the game.
The other key component to the pitching game is catcher Madie Nachbor.
“As a former catcher, I’m not a big fan of throwing a catcher every day, that’s what we’ve done for her,” Minton said. “She knows what we’re looking for. .. She communicates well. … She’s always communicating with the team and always making sure we’re on the right path.”
The state tournament is set to begin on October 16 in Oklahoma City. Bartlesville hasn’t won the state title since the 1980s.