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SUMMER ON BARTLESVILLE DIAMOND: Doenges Indians, other teams, finalize baseball rosters

Mike Tupa, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·3 min read
Bartlesville Doenges Ford Indians' infielder Karson Lee fields the ball on a hop during a dramatic moment last summer on Rigdon Field at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.
Bartlesville Doenges Ford Indians' infielder Karson Lee fields the ball on a hop during a dramatic moment last summer on Rigdon Field at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

Bartlesville Doenges Ford Indian fans won’t need a program to recognize about half of this year’s 19-and-under/college age squad.

Several returnees — and multiple-year program players — will be back on the line during game introductions.

This list includes Daniel Barham (Caney Valley), Haden Fiddler (Caney Valley), Bradee Rigdon (Bartlesville), Cole Hancock (Dewey), Brendan Asher (Bartlesville), Kael Siemers (Wesleyan Christian School), Josh Weber (Barnsdall), Jakob Hall (Bartlesville/Oral Roberts), Karson Lee (Deer Creek/OKWU), Luke Fox (Bartlesville and Harrison Clark (Bartlesville).

The rest of the squad will consist diamond warriors from other area high schools or college players as Bartlesville summer baseball will play part of its games in college league action, as well as against more traditional opponents.

The Indians’ roster includes 23 players — but two of those will be only eligible only for Oklahoma College League games, as pitchers.

Fourteen of the players are graduating senior-or-younger from nine different high schools — Bartlesville, Dewey, Caney Valley, WCS, Barnsdall, Nowata, Pawhuska, Glenpool and Tulsa Union.

The other seven consist of six Oklahoma Wesleyan University players and Hall from Oral Roberts.

Pannell and his coaches held tryouts last weekend to finalize the rosters for the Indians, the United Linen Braves (17-and-under) and Safari Smiles (16-and-under).

Pannell has set a Memorial Day Weekend Tournament at Rigdon Field, in Bill Doenges Stadium, to open the season for all three teams.

Following are the rosters.

SAFARI SMILES: Coaches — Jared Baughn and John Whitworth. Players — Barrett Merciez (Bartlesville), Grant Foote (Bartlesville), Justin Swart (Bartlesville), Sterling Kroh (Bartlesville), Thatcher Parker (Bartlesville) Tristen Goodno (Bartlesville), Parker Cole (Bartlesville), Teegan Caron (Copan), Pierce Hindman (Bartlesville), Shooter Brewington (Copan) and Cy Rigdon (Bartlesville).

UNITED LINEN BRAVES: Coaches — Ryan Lazo and Adam Steffenson. Players — Sam Hill (Oklahoma Union), Aiden Silva (Bartlesville), Payton Lemons (Bishop Kelley), Braden Ruston (Mannford), Daygan West (Nowata), Easton Davis (Caney Valley), Colton Hainzinger (Bartlesville), Benton Blasi (Nowata), Jaden Davis (Bartlesville0, Masyn Dryden (Bartlesville), Kaleb Bashford (Nowata), Grant Clark (Bartlesville), Carson Leach (Bartlesville), Bronk Townley (Barnsdall), Jaxon Zaun (Bartlesville) and Shawn Tate (Bartlesville).

DOENGES FORD INDIANS: Coaches — John Pannell, Jason Moore, Brad Hancock and Jared Baughn. Players — Harrison Clark (Bartlesville), Luke Fox (Bartlesville), Myson VanWinkle (WCS/OKWU), Hayden Catlin (Bartlesville), Mike McBryar (Tulsa Union), Keegan Woods (Arkansas High/OKWU), Kaden Young (Sand Springs/OKWU), Josh Weber (Barnsdall), Jace Thompson (Nowata), Kael Siemers (WCS), Brenden Asher (Bartlesville), Cole Hancock (Dewey), Daniel Barham (Caney Valley), Haden Fiddler (Caney Valley), Bradee Rigdon (Bartlesville), Karson Lee (Deer Creek/OKWU), Alan Covarrubias (Bartlesville/OKWU), Jakob Hall (Bartlesville/ORU), Matt Winters (Glenpool), John Reed (Pawhuska), *Kyler Hancock (Dewey/Central Christian) and *Ryan Jones (Pawhuska, Northeastern Colorado).

In addition to the coaches listed above, former Doenges Ford Indian/college standouts Chris Reddout and Brett Miza have volunteered to help with practices, Pannell said.

“We’re loaded with pitchers,” Pannell said about the Indians, including Braden Ruston (Mannford) who is on the Braves roster but could have opportunities to pitch for the Indians.

The Indians are only one of two registered American Legion majors teams in Oklahoma — the other being in Ada. Pannell said he is weighing whether or not to pay for Legion insurance.

Bartlesville has been part of the American Legion family since 1936, but with so many league options available now, Legion membership in the state has suffered, he noted.

Pannell is beginning his 11th year as the program manager/Indians head coach, from 2003-10 and 2020 to present.

* Pitcher only for Oklahoma College League

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Focus on Bartlesville summer Legion baseball program at Doenges