BROKEN ARROW TIGER BASEBALL
National Champions 2011
Oklahoma State Champions 1991, 2011
Trey Wolf pitches BA back to State Tourn.
by Mike Brown: Tulsa World
Trey Wolf scattered five hits Friday and Broken Arrow punched its ticket to the 6A baseball state tournament with a 6-1 win over Union.
Drew Lowe had a double, triple, RBI and scored a run as the Tigers beat Union for the second time in regional play on the Redskins' diamond. Matt Kaiser tripled and scored on a passed ball and Kohn Franklin had an RBI single. Wolf, a junior right-hander, struck out nine men and walked only two in boosting his record to 8-1.
“Our guy on the mound was outstanding,” coach Shannon Dobson said. “It was a great team effort both offensively and defensively. We’re playing really well at the right time.”
Broken Arrow improved to 30-8, winning its 11th regional title in Dobson’s 15 years at the helm. The Tigers will play Norman North in a first-round game Thursday when the state tournament unfolds at Choctaw High School.
Grady Davenport had two hits and Isaac Muncy-Reyes singled home the only run for the Redskins, who finished 25-11.
Broken Arrow 6, Union 1
Broken Arrow;020;112;0;—;6;6;1
Union;000;100;0;—;1;5;1
Wolf and Dunlap. Simms, Boudreau (5), Farrell (7) and Carrillo. W: Wolf (8-1). L: Simms (3-2).
BA to host "Strike Out MS"
The Broken Arrow Tigers are hosting their annual "Strike Out MS" event and fundraiser Saturday.
Baseball and softball scrimmages between the Tigers and teams from Union will start at noon at the high school fields. The event raises money for multiple sclerosis research.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted on behalf of either school, and a challenge will determine whether the Redskin or Tigers fans can donate more money to the MS Society.
Mike Brown, 918-581-8390, mike.brown@tulsaworld.com, Twitter: @mikebrownTW
Hundreds turn out for Wildlife dinner
The rain and chill outside did not dampen the mood inside the Broken Arrow High School Cafeteria on Friday night.
Approximately 500 people were on hand for the 13th annual Wildlife Festival dinner, which included a menu of various game that could be detected after first stepping on to the parking lot.
Dozens of live and silent auction items, which included everything from day spa packages to outdoor gear, were available. A 50 inch television was among the raffle items on hand.
The 2011 BAHS state championship team, led by current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley, were recognized by Tiger coach Shannon Dobson.
While final numbers were yet to be tallied, the event has raised around $30,000 each of the past couple years.
Surreal Experience: Dobson watches Bradley
at Wrigley Field
By SHAWN HEIN Sports Editor shawn.hein@baledger.com | 0 comments
Between baseball camps and workouts, Shannon Dobson’s off-season schedule can stay pretty hectic. But when the Broken Arrow head coach got an unexpected call, he was more than happy to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a former Tiger standout.
Dobson was traveling to Oklahoma City to help with a pre-draft workout on May 27 when he got a call from BAHS alum and Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitcher Archie Bradley. “He called me and asked ‘What are you doing next Friday?,’” Dobson recalled. “I told him I had nothing on the schedule. He said, ‘If I get you a ticket, would you come up and watch me pitch against the Cubs?’” Dobson jumped at the chance to see his former pupil get the start against the best team in baseball. Bradley delivered as he limited the top offense in the majors to one run in a six-inning, 10-strikeout performance at Wrigley Field.
The right-hander, who pitched opposite veteran all-star John Lackey, got no run support and was tagged with the loss as the Cubs tacked on five runs against the Arizona bullpen as Chicago won, 6-0. But that didn’t spoil the experience for Dobson, who had not seen Bradley pitch in person since getting the win for BAHS in the 2011 6A state championship game.
“To see him in that setting where it holds 30,000-40,000 people in a hostile atmosphere, and he looked the part,” Dobson said. “He looked like he did for (BAHS).”
Following Friday’s game, Dobson and Jay Franklin, Bradley’s agent, were among a small group of people who got to spend some time Bradley. On Saturday, while Bradley was going through off-day workouts, Dobson got a special treat when he was able to get on the field prior to the game. Dobson said he stood at the third base coach’s box and even got to visit the Cubs’ clubhouse. “It kind of gives you chills with how much history is on that field. I used to watch the Cubs, seemingly everyday, on WGN,” said Dobson, who had attended a game at historic Wrigley Field one other time in the mid-1990s. “To be around that much history. It’s really neat. It’s not a cookie-cutter ball park.”
According to Dobson, Bradley told him one of the immediate differences he noticed was the bullpen being located down the foul line inside the ball park, a unique feature from most parks. “The fans there can yell and heckle pitchers in the bullpen,” Dobson said. “(Bradley) said he kind of enjoyed that.”
Dobson said Bradley’s invitation to watch him pitch on the big stage was something he’ll always remember. “When he asked me to come, I got some chills,” he said. “Just to be able to experience that. There probably couldn’t have been a better setting to actually see him pitch for the first time.”
Dobson reflects on time, influences as a coach
By STEVE COWEN Special to the Ledger sports@baledger.com | Posted: Wednesday, February 3, 2016 7:30 am
For a moment anyway, listening to Tommy Lasorda’s legendary baseball “war stories” provided as much a thrill for Shannon Dobson as the real reason he was sitting in the Oklahoma City Biltmore Hotel banquet room.
A 17-year Oklahoma high school baseball coach, 14 with Broken Arrow, Dobson was inducted into the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, while Lasorda, the long-time Dodger manager was the honorable OBCA Hall inductee on Jan. 23. “I was a little bit scared going up and having to talk in front of friends, family and other coaches. It’s kind of a scary feeling,” he recalled the moment he accepted his plaque. Dobson wasn’t the only Broken Arrow High School coach to receive recognition that night. Andy Summers, who has been an assistant coach through much of Dobson’s tenure, was honored OBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award.
“Just reflecting on what we’ve done as a program over the years, having a lot of great people around me – great players, great coaches and even parents – and that’s what it is, it’s an award that goes to an individual, but it’s about a lot of people,” Dobson said.
Dobson initially spoke in generalities. He then cited specific influences, which began with his parents. “They’d be first,” the coach smiled as he talked about parents, Joe and Sharon. “We were a sports-minded family. They got me into baseball. I think they’ve been to every game I’ve played and maybe even every game I’ve coached.” Lloyd Simmons, his coach at Seminole Junior College, was credited for helping develop “my baseball philosophy and the path as far as coaching is concerned. He really helped me along the way.”
That path has led Dobson to more than 450 wins as a high school coach, including a 378-118 record and state championship in 2011 as a Tiger. Dobson coached three years at Tulsa Memorial before coming to Broken Arrow in 2002. Prior to that he served as an assistant coach at Seminole and Oral Roberts University.
Dobson admits he had to adjust his coaching style when he traded his spot in the college dugout for the top dugout perch in high school.
“In college, guys are recruited there to play and perform at a high level,” Dobson said. “In high school, you get what you get and you have to help and motivate those guys to get better. So many things pull at them in high school. They are involved in so many more activities. There are definitely some variations you see when going from college to high school.”
Communicating with players and relaying expectations tops Dobson’ lists his top coaching attributes. “I’m a pretty fierce competitor,” he adds a third to the ranking. “even though I might seem a little low key, I believe I can get that competitive drive across to my players.”
It’s providing building blocks for continued success in baseball and in life for his players that proves the ultimate accomplishment for the Tiger coach, however. “When you think about coaching, the number one thing you ask yourself is ‘did you have a positive influence on those guys while they were here?’” Dobson said. “It’s not just about winning games. It’s about teaching them how to be responsible, be good citizens, and give back to the community.
“Watching them move on to the next level, whatever that is, is always a thrill for all coaches. Hopefully, you like to think anyway, you helped them along the way.”
Former Tiger slugger enters HOF
By SHAWN HEIN Ledger Sports Editor shawn.hein@baledger.com | Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 10:00 am
Shannon Dobson described Andy Wilkins as one of the best hitters he’s ever had in a Broken Arrow Tiger uniform.
On Friday, Wilkins will take his place among BAHS’ storied athletic history. Wilkins is one of six members elected to the Class of 2015 Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame.
Those inductees which include Wilkins, Wayne Bishop, Leann Buneta, Tom Frohnapfel, Doug Quinn and Dr. Kristie (Holman) Vinson, will be inducted prior to the Tigers’ football home opener. The class, which will be the 20th inducted into the Tiger HOF, will be recognized at halftime of the BAHS-Union game at Memorial Stadium.
Wilkins garnered Louisville Slugger High School All-American and Oklahoma All-State honors during his time with the Tigers. The lefty belted 36 career home runs, including 29 in his final two seasons at BAHS. Wilkins batted an impressive .496 during his junior year, then upped his average to .532 as a senior. He went on to play at the University of Arkansas and had a strong three-year career for the Razorbacks, including a trip to the College World Series in 2009.
Wilkins also played for Team USA later that year before being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut on Aug. 31, 2014 with Chicago.
In 2015, Wilkins has shuffled around, moving between four organizations. After recently helping the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers to a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs with 18 homers and 70 RBIs in 105 games, Wilkins was claimed off of waivers two weeks ago by the Baltimore Orioles’ organization and sent to Triple-A Norfolk (Va.).
Evans sharp on mound as State College Spikes blank Williamsport Crosscutters.
by: Ryne Gery , August 19, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK — State College Spikes pitcher Jacob Evans shut down opposing hitters out of the bullpen in his first 10 appearances this season. But the first-year professional’s future was clearly as a starter. And when Ian McKinney’s promotion to Single-A Peoria left an opening in the starting rotation earlier this month, Evans took his place. “We had thought about his stuff,” Spikes manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “He plays like a starter because he’s got a three-pitch mix with good command and finish to all three. So we said the next guy up should be Evans.”
Evans continued his run of dominance in his third start, leading the Spikes to a 5-0 win over the Williamsport Crosscutters on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Evans allowed two hits in five scoreless innings to earn the win. The left-hander has now allowed one unearned run in his last 22 innings, spanning six appearances.
The Spikes (31-25) have now won 10 of their last 12 games and pulled within 3 1/2 games of first-place Williamsport in the Pinckney Division. The teams have seven games remaining against each other, including at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Medlar Field. State College also pushed its lead in the wild card race to 1 1/2 games over Lowell, which lost 3-1 to Brooklyn on Wednesday night. If State College reaches the postseason, Rodriguez plans to give the ball to Evans. “Right now, if the playoffs started tomorrow, he’d be the Game 1 starter,” Rodriguez said. “And there’s no doubts in my mind.”
Evans, who is the lone left-hander on the Spikes’ pitching staff, was the St. Louis Cardinals’ sixth-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Oklahoma product allowed three earned runs in 21 innings of relief before moving into the starting rotation. He went four innings in his first start, allowing one unearned run in a 2-1 win over West Virginia. He threw 65 pitches in six scoreless innings to earn the win in State College’s 9-0 victory over Brooklyn in his previous start. And he turned in another efficient performance Wednesday, facing the minimum number of batters and needing 55 pitches to cruise through five innings. He finished with five strikeouts and walked none. His pitch limit was 70, but his outing came to an end after a 34-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fifth. “He could have gone seven (innings) today,” Rodriguez said.
The manager described the Spikes’ performance as their best of the season. State College finished with 12 hits, led by two-hit nights by Mike Pritchard, Casey Grayson, Orlando Olivera and Ronnierd Garcia. Relief pitchers Max Almonte and Steven De La Cruz each pitched two scoreless innings of relief. “This was our biggest game at the biggest moment because right now every game is a big moment,” Rodriguez said. “We took another step forward.”
The Spikes got on the board in the first inning on Grayson’s RBI single.
They added two runs in the second. Olivera led off with a broken-bat, ground-rule double to left field. He scored on Jose Godoy’s double down the left field line, and Godoy later scored on a sacrifice fly by Cole Lankford.
Jhohan Acevedo’s two-run double to left-center field pushed the Spikes ahead 5-0 in the sixth.
That was more than enough support for Evans and the relievers, who continued the bullpen’s dominant run. State College relievers have allowed just four runs in their last 41 innings over 10 games.
De La Cruz finished with five strikeouts and struck out the side in ninth.
“They believe in their stuff,” Rodriguez said of his bullpen. “They’re trusting their stuff. They’re not letting the game speed up. They’re going about their business. They’re not worried about the situation.”
Notes: Rodriguez said pitcher Landon Beck has been promoted and join Single-A Peoria on Thursday. … Jorge Rodriguez (4-2, 2.61 ERA) will be on the mound for State College on Thursday, while Jose Taveras (5-2, 2.93) is set to start for Williamsport. … Catcher Riley Drongesen was sent to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals.
Cardinals select BA's Evans in 6th round of 2015 MLB draft.
Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 3:50 pm
By: Shawn Hein Sports Editor shawn.hein@baledger.com
Tuesday is a day Jacob Evans won't likely forget.
The 2012 Broken Arrow graduate and current junior pitcher for the University of Oklahoma was chosen in the sixth round of the Major League First-Year Player Draft.
Evans was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, his favorite team growing up, with the 191st pick overall.
"It's kind of a dream come true," said Evans, who was watching the draft with friends and family in Broken Arrow when he saw his name appear at around 3 p.m. local time.
"Just to see your name up there with having a bunch of family around is pretty emotional," he said.
The left-hander compiled a 1.67 ERA this spring for the Sooners out of the bullpen. Evans tallied a 6-1 record while racking up 53 strikeouts in 43 innings.
Evans said he wasn't sure what to expect going into the draft but had hoped to go in the top 10 rounds.
"There was a bunch of interest," he said. "The Cardinals were one of the teams that were interested. It just worked out."
The next step for Evans will be negotiations on a deal with the Cardinals' organization. He will be represented by agent Jay Franklin.
Archie Bradley wins in MLB debut after tossing six scoreless innings vs. Dodgers.
April 11, 2015
by D.J. Short, NBC Sports
Diamondbacks top prospect Archie Bradley made his major league debut tonight against the Dodgers at Chase Field in Arizona and it couldn’t have gone much better.
Bradley held the Dodgers to just one hit (a double byHowie Kendrick in the second inning) across six scoreless innings as part of a 6-0 victory. The 22-year-old right-hander bested three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershawand even singled off him inning the second inning for his first major league hit. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Bradley walked four batters on the night, so there were some deep counts, but he also fanned six. The highlight was striking out the side in the fifth inning. According to Brooks Baseball, Bradley induced 14 swinging strikes and topped out at 95.1 mph on his fastball. He was pulled after throwing 112 pitches (66 for strikes).
Things didn’t go according to plan for Bradley last year, as most expected him to be in the majors by now, but he pitched great this spring and forced himself on the Opening Day roster. The Diamondbacks aren’t expected to be a very good team this year, but he’ll be exciting to watch every fifth day.