Here's a look at Doenges baseball team as it prepares to open summer season

In 1936, a bespectacled and quiet veteran named James MacGregor held tryouts — a just about this time of the year — to start a junior baseball team sponsored by American Legion James Teel Post #105.

About 40 boys showed up for the first tryouts. Other newcomers would wander during the next couple of days.

Thus started a tradition of Bartlesville older-teenagers summer baseball that has continued unbroken through the past 86 years.

The 87th campaign is set to plunge into action this Friday on Rigdon Field at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

The Bartlesville program includes three teams this summer — the Indians (19-U, college league), the United Linen Braves (17-U) and Safari Smiles (15-U).

The program remains affiliated with the American Legion post, albeit due to shrinkage of Legion baseball teams in Oklahoma, it plays largely a non-legion schedule, except for some out-of-state teams and Sooner State programs that either still are, or until very recent years, have been Legion stalwarts.

The spirit remains the same as when MacGregor first sized up the boys for testing drills to try to determine his starters.

According to some spotty reports, MacGregor seemed to be involved, at least on and off, until the early 1950s coaching the Indians.

But, current Doenges Ford head coach/manager John Pannell and Al Solenberger (1964-74) likely are the longest-serving skippers in team history.

Pannell is embarking on his 11th season (2003-10, 2020-22), tying him with Solenberger for longevity in the No. 1 chair.

Pannell’s makeup of players reflect some subtle, and not-so-subtle, changes in the face of Oklahoma summer baseball.

Part of this year’s squad is made up of several college-aged players coming off their freshman seasons.

But, the other half of the roster consists of the pattern Indian fans have come to expect — a horde of area high school seniors or younger representing four of five Washington County high schools and other area schools.

Bartlesville will play host Friday through Sunday to a Memorial Day tourney at Doenges Stadium.

Following a few days of practice last week and this, Pannell and his staff are narrowing down the starting spots.

Pannell believes his primary pitchers going into the campaign are Alan Covarrubias (Bartlesville /Oklahoma Wesleyan University), Myson VanWinkle (Wesleyan Christian/OKWU), Josh Weber (Barnsdall), Brendan Asher (Bartlesville), Daniel Barham (Caney Valley), Hayden Fiddler (Caney Valley), Matt Winters (Glenpool) and Luke Fox (Bartlesville).

Another prized arm on the roster is Bartlesville graduate Jakob Hall. But, Hall is busy this week with the Oral Roberts baseball team in the Summit League Conference championship tourney.

“We’ll probably get a chance to pitch everybody,” Pannell said about this weekend’s hectic five-game schedule.

Karson Lee (Edmond Deer Creek/OKWU) enters the season as the No. 1 catcher. John Reed (Pawhuska) and Keegan Woods (Arkansas/OKWU) also are in the receiver rotation, Pannell said.

The middle and left side of the infield could be manned by Asher, Jace Thompson (Nowata) and Kael Siemers (WCS), Pannell said.

Barham can effectively handle third or first, Pannell said.

Cole Hancock (Dewey) is in the first base rotation, Pannell said.

He envisions some of the leading starting outfield candidates as Harrison Clark (Bartlesville) in left, Fox in right and Evan McClendon (Plano, Texas/OKWU) in center.

Kaden Young (Sand Springs/OKWU) is another strong outfield option.

In addition to their regular schedule, the Indians also will participate this year in the new Oklahoma College League. Two members of the roster who will be pitchers only for OCL games are Dewey graduate Kyler Hancock (Central Christian0 and Pawhuska’ Ryan Jones (Northeastern Colorado).

Rounding out the Indians roster after the tryouts are Bradee Rigdon (Bartlesville), Hayden Catlin (Bartlesville) and Mike McBryar (Tulsa Union).

Pannell’s coaching assists include Jason Moore, Brad Hancock and Jared Baughn. The Braves’ coaches are Ryan Lazo and Adam Steffenson.

Guiding Safari Smiles are Baughn and John Whitworth.

Family season passes are $25 and can be purchased only from team members. The passes are good for all family members in the household for the Indians, Braves and Smiles game.

Individual game tickets may be purchased at the gate. The costs are $7 for adults and $5 for 12-and-older students.

Free admission will be given to children 10-and-under, active or former military members, first responders and teachers.

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Ambitious weekend

Bartlesville has scheduled 23 games in three days at the Memorial Day Weekend tourney.

The schedule for Bartlesville teams is:

• Friday, 10 a.m.: Smiles vs. Tulsa Scissor Tail Blue.

• Friday, 6 p.m.: Indians vs. Ada Braves.

• Friday, 8 p.m.: Indians vs. Ada Braves.

• Friday, 10 p.m.: Braves vs. Tulsa Scissor Tail Gray.

• Saturday, 10 a.m.: Braves vs. Dirty Birds.

• Saturday, 6 p.m.: Indians vs. Ft. Smith.

• Saturday, 8 p.m.: Braves vs. Scissor Tail Red.

• Saturday, 10 p.m.: Smiles vs. Renegades.

• Sunday, 8 a.m.: Smiles vs. Tulsa Scissor Tails Gray.

• Sunday, noon: Braves vs. Tulsa Scissor Tail Blue.

• Sunday, 2 p.m.: Indians vs. Three Rivers.

• Sunday, 4 p.m.: Indians vs. Three Rivers.

• Sunday, 6 p.m.: Smiles vs. Tulsa Scissor Tail Red.

Next level

A couple of Doenges players have set their short-term college futures.

Fiddler has committed to play junior college baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Pannell said.

“I was tickled pink when Hayden called me, not long after I got off the phone with (NEO) coach (Roger) Ward,” Pannell said. “Watching him come up since he was 16 and putting all the work in that he did and getting a chance to keep playing is more gratifying than any of wins we get, being able to see these kids move on.”

Barham has staked the first phase of his college athletic career with Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College as a baseball player, but the school also likes him as a football guy, Pannell said.

Barham was named this year’s Male Athlete of the Year at the recent Night of Scholars and Champions, with Patriot Auto Group as the title sponsor.

Barham excelled the last school year at football, basketball and baseball. The combined record of his teams was 39-23.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Focus on the opening of the American Legion baseball season