glen winget tourney day 2: doenges toyota Indians are 2-0; defeat springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Jaxon Zaun goes after a foul ball during Thursday’s opening day of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in downtown Bartlesville. The Indians run-ruled Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 10-0 on Friday. They play again Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with a fireworks show to follow.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
July 5, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
It’s likely the Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians have played between 275 to 325 games in the Glen Winget Memorial Tournament.
Friday’s tourney win might have been one of the most dominating - and satisfying.
Paced with a pitching-by-committee approach powered by strong batting throughout the lineup the Indians knocked off their most familiar Doenges rival Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest, 10-0, on the second day of play.
With the win, the Indians (16-21) improved to 2-0 in the tourney and are well within the potential of qualifying for Sunday’s semifinals. A Bartlesville win Saturday (7:15 p.m.) against the Fort Smith (Ark.) Sportsman would guarantee the Indians a return to the semifinals after being out the past few years.
Even with a loss to Fort Smith, the Indians would still be in position to advance to the Final Four, depending obviously on how other teams fare Saturday.
Through Friday, the tourney standings (with runs scored-allowed in parentheses are:
Bryant (Ark.) Blacksox, 2-0 (18-3)
Bartlesville Indians, 2-0 (15-3)
Mountain Home (Ark.) Lockeroom, 2-0 (10-6)
Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo, 2-0 (25-10)
Burkburnett (Texas) Black Sox, 1-1 (7-12)
Elk City Mudcats, 1-1 (14-17)
Branson (Mo.) Pirates, 0-2 (4-10)
Fort Smith (Ark.) Sportsman, 0-2 (11-13)
Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest, 0-2 (1-14)
Southern Elevation, 0-2 (4-21)
The top four teams after Saturday’s games will advance to Sunday’s semifinals. The other six teams will be paired off for the ninth-place, seventh-place and fifth-place games.
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Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Bryce Luelf warms up prior to Thursday’s opening day of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in downtown Bartlesville. The Indians run-ruled Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 10-0 on Friday. They play again Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with a fireworks show to follow.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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As mentioned, Friday’s Indians-Hillcrest showdown pitted the only two teams to have played in all previous 65 Winget tourneys.
This one quickly proved to be no contest.
Bartlesville head coach John Pannell rolled out Zane Stricklin (1 inning) as the starting pitcher and then called on Eli Winters (2 innings, 3 strikeouts), Justin Swart (1 inning) and Hunter Shea (1 inning, 3 strikeouts). Bryce Luelf handled catching duties.
The Indians offense, meanwhile, did a Mt. Vesuvius in the first inning, erupting for eight runs to decide the game early.
Kael Siemers started it out with an infield single. He came up twice in the inning and belted two hits and drove in a run.
Sam Marcella, Shea and Jaxon Zaun ripped the biggest hits of the inning - each of them a two-run single. Siemers and Zaun scored on Marcella’s missile. Shea brought home Brett Eaves and Marcella. Zaun’s infield single plated Grant Clark and Siemers.
The Indians offense cooled the next three innings, but they ended the game (run-rule) with two runs in the bottom of the fifth - Clark tripled home Eddie Rice (who had singled) and Zane Griggs drove in Clark for the game-ending score.
This was the second game in a row the Indians enjoyed superior pitching performances by multiple players.
In Thursday’s 5-3 thriller against Branson, Lathe Griggs started and turned in a scrappy string, allowing just one run and striking out the side in the fifth inning. Sticklin and Zane Griggs each pitched one inning of relief to keep the Branson bats mostly muted.
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians honor America with the National Anthem during the opening day of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in downtown Bartlesville, The Indians run-ruled Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 10-0 on Friday. They play again Saturday at 7:15 p.m. with a fireworks show to follow.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports