softball
Bartlesville softball surges to 7th win behind strong hitting Daniels
AUGUST 20, 2024
BY MIKE TUPA
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Bartlesville High School softball players celebrated Tuesday (Aug. 21) like it was September.
Who could blame them after they improved to 7-2 — reaching the seven-win mark two weeks earlier than last season.
Isabell Daniels ripped a double and two singles and drove in a run to help energize Bartlesville to best visiting Edmond Santa Fe, 5-3.
Madie Nachbor added a double and single and two RBIs. Chloe Robbins and Erin Bridendolph also each plated at tally.
In addition to Daniels, contributing multiple hits were Maddie Czaja, Robbins and Nachbor. Lexi Durao-West added a double and Parker Fielder galloped home twice as a courtesy runner.
Durao handled most of the pitching duties, scattering six hits, allowed three runs and striking out three in 4.1 innings. Alison Rosson relieved her in the final 2.2 innings to earn the save. Rosson struck out five of the nine batters she faced.
Kyle Minton has guided Bartlesville to one of its hottest starts in the past several years.
A year ago, the Lady Bruins owned a 1-8 record through nine games and wouldn’t record their seventh win until the 22nd game.
NOTE: One of Minton’s assistant coaches is Caroline Pattison, who excelled as a pitcher during her Lady Bruin career and went to turn in a solid college softball career.
Bartlesville High School's Emereson Casey (11) heads back to the dugout after scoring a run during earlier season softball action. The Lady Bruins defeated Edmond Santa-Fe, 5-3, on Aug. 20, 2024, in Bartlesville.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Isabell Daniels (17) leads off of second base during earlier season action. Daniels had a double and two singles to help the Lady Bruins defeat Edmond Santa-Fe, 5-3, on Aug. 20, 2024, in Bartlesville.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
YELL for Yales: BHS veteran hurler snaps off perfect no-no
AUGUST 19, 2024
BY MIKE TUPA
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Less than a week into the season, the Bartlesville High School softball team already has racked up the same number of wins it recorded during all of August 2023.
And, there’s more than a week-and-a-half remaining until September.
During their Aug. 19 home opening doubleheader, the Lady Bruins — who are guided by veteran skipper Kyle Minton — blew away two foes to improve to 6-2.
In fact, Bartlesville fans had plenty to yell about — especially with Yales in the circle.
Veteran pitcher Kelsie Yales snapped off a perfect game (three strikeouts) to power the Lady Bruins past Sapulpa, 8-0.
Following are more details about this contest and the other victory.
BARTLESVILLE 8, SAPULPA 0: Yales needed to throw just 34 pitches to close out her classic coup. Madie Nachbor hunkered down at catcher to complete the perfect union.
While Yales, Nachbor and the defense smothered Sapulpa like a steel blanket, seven Lady Bruins contributed hits to the blazing offensive effort.
Emerson Casey, Savannah Alden, Erin Bridendolph and Isabell Daniels each clobbered a double; Daniels, Bridendolph and Alden each drove in two runs. Chloe Robbins and Lola Redington each plated one tally.
Lexi Durao-West also contributed to the hitting total.
BARTLESVILLE 13, CLEVELAND 2: Kylee Berry turned in a cherry of a pitching performance, holding Cleveland to just four hits and no walks, while Parker Fielder handled catching duties.
Bartlesville batters, meanwhile, walloped the ball with rugged regularity.
Bridendolph crushed a homer and drove in four runs to spearhead the offensive splurge.
Daniels, Casey, Alden, Robbins and Redington contributed a double apiece; Alden drove in two runs.
Redington, Daniels, Bridendolph, Alden and Kenzie Denny lashed two hits apiece, while Robbins, Daniels, Durao-West and Casey each drove in a run.
Bartlesville High School's Kylee Berry (2) pitches to a Cleveland batter during softball action on Aug. 19, 2024 in Bartlesville. The Lady Bruins defeated Sapulpa and Cleveland.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Erin Bridendolph (5) is safe at second base in softball action against Cleveland on Aug. 19, 2024 in Bartlesville. The Lady Bruins also defeated Sapulpa.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Kelsie Yales (18) threw a perfect game to lead the Lady Bruins to an 8-0 win over Sapulpa on Aug. 19, 2024 in Bartlesville. The Lady Bruins also defeated Cleveland.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Yales nails down shutout to lift BHS Lady Bruins
AUGUST 16, 2024
BY MIKE TUPA
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Three days into the season and the Bartlesville High School’s softball team is off like a rocket compared to a year ago at this time.
With two wins Aug. 16, the Lady Bruins improved to 3-1 — compared to 2023 when they didn’t record their third win until the 11th game.
Kyle Minton is looking to guide the team to its second winning season in three years and also back to the state tournament for the first time since 2010.
Following are summaries, in order, of Bartlesville's last three contests.
CHOCTAW 8, BARTLESVILLE 7: The host Lady Yellowjackets forced home four runs in the fourth inning and barely hung on.
Lexi Durao-West and Lola Redington each ripped a double to help fuel Bartlesville’s offensive assault. Redington drove in three runs, followed by Durao, Erin Bridendolph, Emerson Casey and Savannah Alden with one RBI each.
Isabell Daniels contributed two hits and scored a team-leading two runs.
Durao suffered the pitching loss in 3.1 innings. Kelsie Yales finished up the final 2.2 frames.
H. Grice plated two runs for Choctaw.
BARTLESVILLE 8, BRIDGE CREEK 0: Yales snapped off the two-hit shutout while striking out four.
Alden walloped a homer and drove in three runs; Madie Nachbor added a double and single and plated three runs.
Chloe Robbins singled, walked twice, stole three bases and scored three times. Maddie Czaja contributed one stolen base.
BARTLESVILLE 5, NORMAN 4: This thriller went down to the final inning. Norman pumped three runs across the plate in the top of the final inning to tie the score, 4-4.
Bartlesville squeezed home a run in the bottom of the frame to win it.
Alden, Robbins, Czaja and Bridendolph each drove home one run. Durao and Daniels contributed a double and triple, respectively.
Robbins, Daniels, Casey, Redington and Parker Fielder scored a run apiece. Kenzie Denny recorded one of five steals by the team.
Alison Rosson hurled the complete game, fashioning a six-hitter with one walk and two strikeouts.
Bartlesville High School's Emerson Casey (11) bats during a last season game.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Lola Redington (20) heads to second base during a last season game.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
BHS Lady Bruin bats come out smokin' in season opener
AUGUST 13, 2024
BY MIKE TUPA
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
A sumptuous veteran flavor should provide a recipe for happy times this fall season for the Bartlesville High School varsity softball team.
The Lady Bruins — who are led by longtime head coach Kyle Minton — dismantled host Deer Creek High School, 15-4, in their Aug. 12 opener in what might have been a tasty appetizer of a banquet of success for the campaign.
First-year Lady Bruin varsity player Erin Bridendolph mashed a homer, triple and double and drove in five runs to single-handedly outscore Deer Creek.
Madie Nachbor, Lexi Durao-West and Savannah Alden each plated two runs, followed by Isabell Daniels and Emerson Casey with one apiece.
Meanwhile, Bartlesville batters unleashed a tidal wave of extra-base hits. In addition to Bridendolph's double, triple and homer, Daniels and Lola Redington each homered and Robbins ripped a double.
Maddie Czaja, Kenzie Denny and Robbins contributed a stolen base apiece.
Battle-tested pitcher Kelsie Yales and Durao split time in the circle. Yales scattered six hits and didn’t allow a walk in four innings; Durao tossed a perfect inning of relief.
Minton’s crew will be looking to bounce back from a 13-24 record last season, which was due mostly to a slow start. The 2023 Lady Bruin squad started out at 1-8, but turned it around to finish 12-16 the rest of the season.
Last year the Lady Bruins fell twice to Deer Creek, 6-1 and 2-1, in their 15th and 24th games, respectively.
The Lady Bruins are just three seasons removed from a winning record (19-15, 2021). They have won 65 games since the beginning of the 2020 season.
Last year’s returning leaders include: Robbins (.383, 1 2B, 5 RBIs,18 Rs), Daniels (.321, 6 2Bs, 7 RBIs, 20 Rs, 7 BBs, 5 HBPs), Casey (.311, 5 2Bs, 18 RBIs, 14 Rs), and Durao (.310, 10 2Bs, 3 HRS, 17 RBIs). Nachbor batted .313 and drove in four runs in limited varsity plate appearances last season.
Yales and Durao turned in strong pitching performances last season. Durao made 11 appearances, including nine starts, whittled out a 3.19 earned run average and walked only 10 batters in 50.1 innings. Yales worked a team-high 71.0 innings (17 appearances, 14 starts) and registered a 5.32 ERA.
Bartlesville will be battling to earn its first state tourney appearance since 2010.
Bartlesville High School's Lexi Durao-West (9) pitches during last season softball action. BHS defeated Deer Creek 15-4 on the road in their season opener on August 12, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Isabell Daniels (17) looks to make a double play during last season softball action. BHS defeated Deer Creek 15-4 on the road in their season opener on August 12, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School's Savannah Alden (22) rips a base hit during last season softball action. BHS defeated Deer Creek 15-4 on the road in their season opener on August 12, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports