INDIANS CAPTURE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WINGET CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY OVER KICKAPOO 6-2
The Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians hold their championship plaque after defeating Kickapoo 6-2 to win their second straight Glen Winget Memorial Tournament title Sunday.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Joel Perez (15) connects for a hit against Kickapoo during the Glen Winget Memorial Tournament championship game Sunday. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
July 9, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following a stormy Saturday evening that delayed tournament action until 11 p.m., the Doenges Toyota Indians (20-8-2) captured the 67th annual Glen Winget Memorial Tournament title on Sunday with a 6-2 victory over Kickapoo. The tournament victory represents the first Winget championship for first-year manager Tony Osborne.
The win marks the 20th Glen Winget title in program history and the fifth since 1998. It also secures back-to-back Winget championships for the Indians, who defeated Bryant, Arkansas, 3-2 to win the 2025 tournament. The consecutive crowns are the first for the Tribe since winning two straight in 2002 and 2003, adding to a modern legacy that includes winning two tournament titles between 2016 and 2018.
The Indians lost only one game during the four-day event, falling to Elk City 11-8 on Friday after defeating Mountain Home 7-1 in Thursday's opening round.
On Saturday, the Indians run-ruled Burkburnett 8-0 in a pool-play game that did not conclude until 1 a.m. Sunday after severe storms swept through the area. The Indians jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning and tacked on three more runs in the sixth. Lathe Griggs earned the victory on the mound, pitching all six innings while allowing four hits and striking out seven batters.
Rhett Leu finished the contest with one hit and one RBI. In the bottom of the sixth, Easton Davis lined a double to right field, scoring Jaxon Zaun, Nate Sloan and Leu to end the game early via the run rule.
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Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Sterling Kroh (55) delivers a pitch against Kickapoo during the 67th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament championship game Sunday. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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The victory advanced the Indians into semifinal play Sunday against Southern Elevation. Bartlesville built a 3-1 lead through three innings before adding an insurance run in the top of the seventh to move ahead 4-1. Southern Elevation rallied for one run in the bottom of the frame, but the Indians' defense held on for the victory. Dewey product Zane Griggs earned the win, pitching 6 2/3 innings while allowing five hits and two runs with six strikeouts. Davis entered in relief to record the final out on a fly ball to Zaun in center field.
Osborne praised his pitchers for carrying the load through the grueling weekend schedule.
"Pitching was absolutely lights out this week," Osbourne said. "Kamen (Sprague), Lathe, Zane and Easton Davis stuck to their game plans and executed beautifully."
In the championship game, the Indians scored two runs each in the third and fourth innings, matching single runs by Kickapoo in both frames.
The Bartlesville offense struck first in the top of the third inning. Eddie Rice drew a walk and advanced to third on a line-drive double to left field by Sloan. Leu followed with a groundout to first base, driving in Rice to put the Indians up 1-0. Davis then drove a single to shortstop to bring home Sloan. Kickapoo answered with one run in the bottom of the frame.
In the fourth inning, Braxten Willis lined a single to center field and advanced to second on the throw. Bryce Luelf executed a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to move Willis to third before Parker Garrison drew a walk. Rice then singled on a line drive to right field, driving in Willis. Zane Griggs, running as a courtesy runner for Garrison, moved to second on the play to put the Indians up 3-1. Leu reached on an infield error by the shortstop later in the frame, allowing Griggs to cross the plate.
Kickapoo cut the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Indians added crucial insurance runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to seal the tournament title.
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Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Bryce Luelf (44) lays down a sacrifice bunt to bring in a runner against Kickapoo during the 67th Glen Winget Memorial Tournament championship game Sunday. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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Zaun led the championship game box score, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Willis finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Rice finished 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
"Our batting order was a force to deal with against any pitcher we faced," Osbourne said, noting that players like Willis, Joel Perez, Garrison and Zaun consistently found the barrel. “Easton Davis was seeing the ball like a beach ball, and Joel had the big home run."
Osborne emphasized that the squad's selfless culture helped them overcome adversity, including a lineup shuffle when Grant Goldman suffered a slight shoulder strain. Goldman still contributed on Sunday by helping Garrison behind the plate and calling pitches from the bench.
"What is always amazing is the fact that these guys are there for each other whether they are in the lineup or not," Osborne said. "On the bench, in the locker room or on the field, they are there not for themselves but for the team. It’s special to be part of and what we are trying to build this program around."
Osborne credited Zaun for instilling that mindset.
"Jaxon 'Cap' Zaun has been a good leader and the guy that has gotten everyone to buy into this from the beginning," Osborne said. "He has been down with a slight injury but has proven being there for your guys is what it's about. And the whole team has followed that and got behind it. You can always help the team even if you’re not in the field."
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Bartlesville Doenges Ford Indian Rhett Leu slides safely home during the 67th Glen Winget Memorial Baseball Tournament last week. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship. Leu was awarded the Belva Hively Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Following the tournament victory, Leu was named the Belva Hively Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Members of the Hively family were on hand for the ceremony, with her great-grandson Lathan Guerra presenting Leu with the award. Hively, who passed away in 2010, served as the traditional baseball organist at the Winget tournament from 1976 through 2009.
For Osborne, the environment surrounding the program makes the historic achievement even sweeter.
"What is most exciting about it is the continued support from the entire community," Osborne said. "The fan base and support we continue to have is like nothing in any other place.”
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Braxten Willis (16) makes the catch at first base for a closeout against Kickapoo during the Glen Winget Memorial Tournament championship game Sunday. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Nate Sloan (22) connects for a hit against Kickapoo during the Glen Winget Memorial Tournament championship game Sunday. The Indians defeated Kickapoo, 6-2, for the Winget championship.
ANDY DOSSETT/Bartlesville Area Sports Report