Progress in sports rarely follows a straight line pattern — particularly when a club is coming off a rugged stretch. There almost always are growing pains, zig-zags rather than forward momentum and a need for persistence. Such is likely the case for Bartlesville High School football. First, the Bruins have not been a bad team the past couple of seasons, but the talent or chemistry just seem to mesh together. That’s a process that sometimes almost acts on its own, although it can be hastened by coaching and senior leadership. I think there are a few areas of big improvement needed by the Bartlesville Bruins. But, they are making the right strides, even if the steps seem very short right now. Suddenly, things will click together in each of those areas. Until then, Bartlesville has to keep battling, working hard and trusting in its coaches. Blast from the past Following their successful foray through last weekend’s Glen Winget Memorial Tournament, the Bartlesville United Linen Braves continued to flex their muscles during this week’s Three Rivers League Baseball Tournament in Pryor. The Braves finished 2-1 in pool play and are slated to play at 5:30 p.m. today in the third-place game, in Pryor. Bartlesville opened the tourney by knocking off Pryor, 8-2, on Tuesday. Claremore-Sequoyah rallied from an 11-6 deficit to beat the Braves, 13-11, in the second round contest Tuesday. After taking off Wednesday, Bartlesville bounced back Thursday with a come-from-behind 10-5 triumph against Verdigris. When it came to flexing muscles, no one did it better Thursday night for the Braves than Andrew Kimrey and Jonathon Coyazo. With the Braves trailing, 5-3, Kimrey opened the sixth inning by smashing a solo homer — his first career dinger in high school or American Legion action. Kimrey’s cloud chaser pulled the Braves to within one run, 5-4. A few minutes later, Yardley scored the tying run and Jonathan Russell crossed home plate with the go-ahead tally. Coyazo later sent a screamer over the fence for a three-run bomb to put the game out of reach. Gabe Meidl added a key double during the Braves’ seven-run uprising in the sixth. Earlier in the game, Chris Noland blasted a run-scoring double off the wall. Christian Bailey then wrapped up his complete-game mound gem for the Braves, with Meidl as his catcher. Two days earlier, Braves pitcher Yardley snapped off a four-hitter, with six strikeouts, to pace Bartlesville past Pryor, with Kyle McKinney as his catcher. The Braves found the going much rougher against Claremore-Sequoyah in Tuesday’s second game. Bartlesville appeared to be in control, with a five-run advantage late in the battle. But, Claremore-Sequoyah bounced back to win. Jacob Archambo, Jayden Brazda and Bailey each took turns pitching in the loss. On Wednesday, the Braves enjoyed a rare breather. Starting with Friday’s Winget tourney opener, they had played six games in five days, through Tuesday. The one-day’s rest apparently re-energized the Braves. They knocked off fearsome foe Verdigris, behind the throwing heroics of Bailey, and the raucous sixth-inning rally.