SURVIVAL: BHS Bruins snap back to stay alive in baseball regional

One day at a time is more than just a cliche for the Bartlesville High baseball team.

It’s a matter of survival.

That’s exactly what the Bruins did Wednesday, boomeranging back from the edge of playoff elimination to entomb U.S. Grant’s season, 14-0.

Bartlesville head coach Cody Price — likely certain of his team’s chances against Grant — called out a committee of pitchers to combine on the no-hit shutout.

Shawn Tate pitched the first two innings (to earn the win), followed by Barrett Merciez, Jaden Davis and Aidan Silva.

The quartet combined for one walk (Tate) and whiffed 12 batters on just 66 pitches.

The victory assured the Bruins (22-14) a return the next day to the Class 6A regional hosted by Tulsa Union.

But, Bartlesville still faced a climb through rocky terrain to rule in the regional and make its first state tournament appearance since 2006.

The Bruins needed to knock off host Tulsa Union in the losers’ bracket final and then beat Owasso twice.

Following is a breakdown of Wednesday’s results.

In the opener, Union knocked Grant around like a pinball, 17-0.

Owasso outlasted Bartlesville in the other first-round game, 7-2.

That loss dropped the Bruins to the loser’s bracket and one defeat away from season extinction.

In the winner’s bracket final, Owasso stunned Tulsa Union, 1-0, in extra innings.

Wednesday’s slate ended with Bartlesville overpowering Grant, 14-0.

That left Bartlesville vs. Tulsa Union in the losers bracket final, followed by the Bartlesville-Union winner playing Owasso for the regional crown.

An “if’ game, should it be required, is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at Tulsa Union.

Following are summaries of Bartlesville’s games Wednesday.

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OWASSO 7, BARTLESVILLE 2

For the Owasso Rams, this result was pure payback. During the regular season the Bruins dehorned the Rams, 6-1.

But, despite the relatively wide margin, this was a scrappily-competitive game until the final two innings.

The teams stood deadlocked, 2-2, trough five innings. Owasso scored three times in the sixth inning and added two insurance tallies in the seventh.

Price called on senior Nik Johnson to start on the bump and he turned in a gem the first five innings. But, in the top of the sixth, Owasso put its first three runners on base (double, walk, error).

Price would also install Zeb Henry and Brenden Asher on the mound during the final two innings, but Johnson would be tagged with the loss. James Sutter pitched a complete-game six-hitter for Owasso.

On the offensive side, Johnson smacked a double to try to energize the attack. Davis Chancellor and Brett Eaves both drove in a Bruin run (Asher and Damien Niko).

Eric Olenberger earned Bartlesville’s only walk.

Carter Miller doubled twice for Owasso and drove in a run.

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BARTLESVILLE 14, GRANT 0

Bartlesville burst to a 9-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back.

Johnson ripped a triple for this second extra-base hit of the day and drove in two runs. Eaves added a triple and RBI.

Also plating a run apiece for Bartlesville were Grant Clark, Masyn Dryden, Kaden Romesburg ad Thatcher Parker.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville High Bruins keep alive in regional with 2nd round win