LARRY LARKIN

Sports Sunday Correspondent



Rogers County shortstop Kevin Phillips wears No. 10 on the back of his Rangers uniform. After Friday night, he may be tempted to switch to No. 5.

For the second consecutive night, he scored five runs to help lead the Rangers to an American Legion baseball victory at Claremore's Legion Field. He also hit his fifth home run of the season.

The Rangers improved to 25-4 by finally pulling away from Bartlesville and taking a 14-8 victory. The Indians dropped to 28-14.

Billed as a game to promote breast cancer awareness, the win capped a "Pink Night at the Park" for the Rangers and their fans. Both teams and the umpires came out in pink jerseys. Home plate, the bases, and the pitchers' rubber were all painted pink.

Instead of the regular gate admission, fans were asked for donations. Legion baseball official Paul Pixley and Ranger head coach Ryan Brittle announced that $1,665 was collected and will be presented to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Adding to the overall pink look, some of the Rangers took things a bit further. Sluggers David Chester and Phillips each carried pink bats up to the plate in the first inning. It worked for the home team's first run. Phillips walked, stole second, then scored on a Chester single to straight-away center.

The bats were auctioned off after the inning with the proceeds going to the cancer fund.

Home plate umpire Gene Lewellen also announced before the contest he would donate his game check to the fund.

Manning the left and right field positions, respectively, brothers Jeff and Josh Thompson dyed their knee-high socks pink.

It was another busy night for Phillips. On Thursday night, during a 17-3 win over Moore, the Collinsville product scored five runs while knocking in five. Against Bartlesville, he scored five more times. He had the home run and walked three times and also was hit by a pitch.

A calculator was needed to keep track of the game's scorecard. The teams combined for 22 runs on 24 errors. Rogers County had 28 batters reach base while Bartlesville put on 23.

Of the seven pitchers used, four for the Rangers and three for the Indians, only Harrison Mendez was able to work an inning and retire three straight batters. He replaced starter Matt Brimer and worked the third, fourth and fifth innings. He was credited with the win.

Bartlesville's second pitcher, Jace Hanna, was charged with the loss.

Scott Hull gave Bartlesville a 4-1 edge when he homered off Mendez in the third. The Ranger pitcher then left two runners stranded the next inning before retiring the side in the fifth.

The Rangers took the lead with a four-run fourth-inning rally despite only two hits. Three walks and a hit batsman aided the cause.

Leading 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth, it appeared the Rangers were locking down another victory as Phillips led off with a home run to left. The Rangers added three more runs in each of the next innings.

Still the Indians refused to quit. Two runs in their half of the seventh pulled them to within 8-6, and two more in the eighth made for an 11-8 score.

Jared Peper, taking over on the Ranger mound in the eighth, walked the leadoff batter in the ninth. The next two batters grounded to third baseman Braden Best and he elected to force the runners at second with nifty back-to-back throws to Cade McKewon.

The 3-hour, 13-minute game then ended with Peper striking out the final batter.

Alex Coplon worked the sixth and seventh innings for the Rangers and struck out four.





RANGERS 14, BARTLESVILLE 8

Bartlesville 211 000 220 — 8 12 1

Rogers County 102 401 33x — 14 12 1

Ketchum, Hanna (4), Dailey (7) and Murguia, Hale (8). Brimer, Mendez (3), Coplon (6), Peper (8) and Rogers, Grace (4). W — Mendez (1-0). L — Hanna. HRs — Bartlesville, Hull. Rogers County, Phillips (5).