Doenges Toyota Indians record win on first day of Glen Winget Memorial Tournament
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians shortstop Kael Siemers tries to pick off a Branson runner at second base Thursday evening during the first day of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium. The Indians beat Branson, 5-3.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
A Burkburnett pitcher delivers to a Bryant batter during the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament. Bryant won, 11-2. Play continues Friday through Sunday at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
July 4, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Thanks to a huge strike out by their Copan connection, the Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians took a giant step forward Thursday toward the semi-finals of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament.
The Indians held off the Branson Pirates, 5-3 in a contest that wrapped up shortly before midnight at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.
Bartlesville's roll call of game heroes stretched deep.
But it might have been relief pitcher Zane Stricklin's dramatic strikeout in the sixth frame that made the ultimate difference.
The Indians were clinging to a 3-1 lead when Branson loaded the bases in the top of the sixth. Stricklin then faced off against a determined Pirates' batter, both refusing to give in. The count went 10 pitches deep - including five foul balls - before Stricklin rang up the "K" to preserve the two-run margin, which would be the margin of difference at the end.
Several Indian batters delivered huge hits in elevating Bartlesville to 1-0 in the Winget pool play. In the third inning, Kael Siemers - who also would earn the pitching save - had a sacrifice fly, scoring Hunter Shea after his triple. In the bottom of the sixth the Indians added two runs, sparked Grant Clark's one-out single. Later in the inning, Siemers and Jaxon Zaun belted back-to-back RBI base hits.
Back in the fifth inning, Siemers put down a clutch sacrifice bunt that led to Zaun driving in Eli Winters and Brett Eaves ripped in a double to plate Shea.
Lathe Griggs started on the mound, facing 21 batters with 13 strikeouts, no hits and three walks.
In Friday's other tourney games, Bryant (Ark.) beat Burkburnett, 11-2; Mountain Home Lockeroom outlasted Springfield Hillcrest, 4-1; Springfield Kickapoo downed Southern Elevation, 14-3; and Elk City Mudcats edged Fort Smith, 7-6.
Five more games are planned Friday, capped by the Indians taking on Springfield Hillcrest in an 8 p.m. showdown.
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Brett Eaves bats during Thursday’s 5-3 win over Branson during the first day of the 66th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports