DOENGES TOYOTA INDIANS OPEN SUMMER CAMPAIGN WITH 7-4 ROAD WIN OVER KANSAS CURVE
Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians Jaxon Zaun takes a throw at second base during last season. The Indians won their season opener on the road, 7-4, against the Kansas Curve last Saturday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report/FILE PHOTO
By Becky Burch
June 1, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Bartlesville Doenges Toyota Indians opened their summer campaign with a 7-4 road victory over the Kansas Curve last Saturday.
"We had a great day of baseball and got the first win of the season," said Indians' first-year coach Tony Osborne. "The talent level was phenomenal."
The Indians struck first in the opening frame. Leadoff hitter Jaxon Zaun singled to right field and quickly crossed the plate on a Coen Miller line drive to center, putting Bartlesville ahead 1-0. However, the Curve responded with runs in both the first and second innings to edge ahead 2-1 after three.
Bartlesville struck back in the top of the fifth. Zaun ignited the offense again, reaching first on an infield single to the right side. After drawing multiple pick-off attempts, he stole second to put himself in scoring position. Grant Goldman then drew a walk, bringing on Eddie Rice to enter as a pinch runner. Coen Miller followed with a sharp grounder for a single to load the bases. Next up, shortstop Henry Calderon grounded into a fielder's choice to third base, which forced Rice out at third, but allowed Zaun to score and advanced Miller to second. Both teams traded a run in the seventh inning to knot the score at 3-3, sending the game into extra frames.
The Indians broke the game wide open in the top of the eighth, capitalizing on defensive miscues to push four runs across the plate. With one out, Easton Davis was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zane Stricklin and Bodie Clark both drew walks to load the bases for Zaun, who hit a grounder and reached first safely on an error, scoring Davis. Goldman followed with an RBI single on a hard grounder to the pitcher to score Stricklin. Nate Sloan then reached first on an error by the third baseman, which allowed both Zaun and Clark to cross the plate and extend the Bartlesville lead.
While the offense built the lead, Osborne noted that the defensive effort kept them in a position to win. "We were most impressed with the damage control we had in defense. Defensively, Grant Goldman saved a ton of runs behind the plate."
Miller earned the win for the Indians with four strikeouts. Kamen Sprague, Sterling Kroh, Zane Griggs, Miller, and Lincoln Gott also saw action on the mound.
"We as a team hit the ball really well, the pitchers threw great, and we played well behind them," Osborne said. "All in all, it just made us more excited for the season and ready to keep grinding with these guys."
Zaun spearheaded the offensive attack for the Indians, going 3-for-5 at the plate with one RBI. Miller also put together a multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sloan went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Calderon drove in a pair of runs and Goldman contributed a hit and an RBI to the victory.
A second game began, but was called off due to weather.
Next up, the Indians travel Tuesday to Claremore for Collegiate D-Bat League play.