Lincoln took its hot start to the season and carried it to another state, as the Bulldogs won three of four games on spring break at the Gulf Coast Classic in Alabama.

Lincoln (11-2) beat Beggs, Muskogee and Pickens Academy last week to continue its winning ways in March.

The Bulldogs won six straight wins before a loss on Saturday, March 14 at Bixby before heading to Alabama.

Lincoln then won three of four, with the only loss coming to Byng.

Lincoln returned home on Monday and Tuesday for a sweep of Cascia Hall in district play.

"It was a great trip for us and our kids showed me a lot," said Lincoln head coach Greg Harmon. "We had a late night the first night in an exciting win over Beggs and had to turn around and play again early against Muskogee. Our kids handled that well."

Perhaps the biggest sign of maturity that Harmon saw on the trip was after his team let one get away against Byng on Wednesday.

Lincoln allowed five runs on four errors in one inning to get behind Byng in a 9-4 loss.

"We had some uncharacteristic mistakes in the field that put us behind but our kids kept fighting," said Harmon.

However it was what happened the next day that impressed the head coach the most, as Lincoln dominated in just four innings vs. Pickens Academy.

"We had a chance to learn from a loss like that and our kids took advantage," said Harmon. "We grew from that adversity the day before. Last year in super regionals against Jones, we had a similar situation and we didn't respond well and it ended our season."

"So to me, that shows tremendous growth from last season and our team continues to build experience in close games and develop an ability to respond to adversity."

Lincoln will be at the Tiger/Zebra Classic this weekend on Thursday-Saturday.

The Bulldogs open play in Claremore with two games on Thursday, playing Skiatook at 4 p.m. followed by a 6:30 p.m. against Claremore.

Lincoln will play just once on Friday in Claremore, facing Sallisaw at 11 a.m.

The Bulldogs will close out the event on Saturday at 3 p.m. when Lincoln takes on Tahlequah in Pryor.

Lincoln is back at home on Monday to host Wyandotte in a home-and-home district showdown that sees a return trip north on Tuesday.

Lincoln will host Glenpool on Thursday, April 2 before going to NOAH on Saturday, April 6.

The Bulldogs are 4-0 and in first place in District 3A-6.

LINCOLN 4, BEGGS 3

Lincoln found a way late in the game on a cold night in Alabama to win its second straight game via walk off last week.

After the game was knotted at 1-1 through eight innings, Beggs scored two runs in the top of the 9th before Lincoln responded.

The Bulldogs used the international tiebreak rule, allowing Aiden Hendren to start at 2nd base to open the inning.

Freshman Major Brooks singled to move Hendren to 3rd, before advancing to 2nd on a wild throw.

Senior Silas Goff hit a sac fly to score Hendren and bring the score to 3-2, while Brooks advanced to 3rd.

Shortly after, sophomore Jax Crumbliss bunted on a squeeze play, allowing Brooks to score for 3rd and tie the game at 3-3.

After Rhett Martin courtesy ran for Crumbliss, Beaux Brumble stepped up and delivered the game winner.

Harmon called a hit-and-run and Brumble ripped a ground ball down the left field line, allowing Martin to score all the way from 1st.

"Our guys really showed some composure in a pressure situation," said Harmon. "We executed when we had to and our mental toughness and grit showed. We are developing some experience in close games, which will help us dow the stretch."

Senior Chandler Cozbey made his first start of the year and was outstanding, going 4.1 innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run while striking out four.

"He was efficient for us and had good command for his first start," said Harmon. "We wanted to get him 35-40 pitches but he was pitching to contact and got to go a little bit longer. He had all pitches working."

Kade Poplin entered in relief and pitched well for Lincoln, going 4.2 innings, allowing just three hits and two earned runs.

"He entered in a tough spot but did an excellent job and I was proud of him for working out of some tight spots," said Harmon.

Although the Bulldogs weren't as sharp defensively (two errors), Harmon highlighted Hendren, who continues to impress early in the season and had an incredible play to save things in the 7th.

"He had an unassisted triple play for us that got us out of a bases loaded, no outs situation," said Harmon. "He caught a soft line drive up the middle and touched second base before throwing out a Beggs runner at third that had already overcommitted. It completely shifted the momentum of the game."

Cozbey, along with seniors Carter Ricke and Lane Hunter, all singled in the win.

Beggs took a 1-0 leading the 5th before Lincoln tied the game in the bottom of the 6th.

Ricke opened the inning with a walk before swiping second base, allowing Hunter to single to center and tie the game at 1-1.

LINCOLN 7, MUSKOGEE 2

After a late night finish, Lincoln had to turn around quickly last week in Alabama and the Bulldogs did just that.

Lincoln got another stellar effort from Hendren on the mound, while the offense strung together 13 hits to win its second game in less than 24 hours over Muskogee.

Hendren went six strong innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run, He walked none and struck out seven hitters.

"Aiden was phenomenal for us," said Harmon. "He was efficient and needed just 65 pitches to work six innings. He had a great three-pitch mix and had guys off balance with his fastball and off speed stuff."

After the game was tied 1-1 through three innings, Lincoln broke the game open in the 4th with five runs — and did so all with two outs.

Brumble reached on an error to start the two-out rally before Cole Dooley walked and Cozbey singled to load the bases.

Ricke singled to right in the next at bat to score Dooley and Brumble and make it 3-1.

The next hitter, Hendren, slashed a double to right, scoring Cozbey and Ricke to stretch the advantage to four.

Goff tripled in the next at bat to score Martin, who courtesy ran for Hendren.

"We are at our best when we are executing in our at bats and putting the ball in play," said Harmon.

Goff drove in Cozbey with an RBI single in the first to take a 1-0 lead.

Dooley doubled to center in the 5th to score Carter Hunter and put Lincoln up 7-1 before Muskogee added a run late.

Hendren was 3-for-3, while Goff and Crumbliss were each 2-for-4 and Cozbey finished 2-for-5.

LINCOLN 12, PICKENS ACAEMDY 0

Lincoln's final game of the spring break trip was a short one, as the Bulldogs made quick work of the foe from Alabama.

The Bulldogs piled on five runs in the first and second, while allowing just two hits in the 4-inning game.

Ricke got the started and pitched two shutout innings, striking out four of the eight batters faced and allowing just one hit.

Hendren was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Brooks was also 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a double in the win.

Ricke and Cozbey were each 2-for-4, as the former doubled and the latter tripled for Lincoln.

Crumbliss had a 2-run double in the win, while the Bulldogs totaled 13 hits in the win.

Brumble and Dooley each worked a scoreless inning of relief after Ricke exited.

Reid Eddings, Poplin, Cade Ryan and Nate Cottman each singled for Lincoln in the victory.

LINCOLN 10, CASCIA HALL 0

The Bulldogs got back to work in district play on Monday, as Lincoln rolled over Cascia at home in the first action after the spring break trip.

Lincoln scored five in the first and two in the second to race out to a big lead, while the Bulldogs allowed just two hits through five total innings.

Ricke and Cozbey each pitched two scoreless innings for Lincoln, as the two combined to allow just two hits and two walks, while striking out five.

Lincoln had just eight hits in the win but walked 11 times as a team.

Goff was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Lane Hunter and Brooks each had a base hit and drove in two runs.

Ricke, Hendren, Brumble and Dooley each singled in the win.

Poplin pitched the final inning of relief and struck out two.

Lincoln added another run in the 4th and two more in the 5th to end the game.

LINCOLN 17, CASCIA HALL 0

For the second straight day, Lincoln did more of the same behind a huge 5th inning and more great pitching.

Lincoln piled on 12 runs in the top of the 5th to break the game completely open, while the pitching staff was stellar again, allowing just three hits in the win.

Carter Hunter rebounded with a nice outing, as the junior was sharp. He allowed just two hits in four innings, while striking out eight. He also finished with zero walks.

With Lincoln up 5-0 and one out in the 5th, the Bulldogs started the hot streak with a couple of bombs.

After Carter Hunter reached on an error and Brumble walked, Cozbey hit his first homer of the year to left, a 3-run bomb to push the lead to 8-0.

The next hitter, Ricke, singled to left, which allowed Hendren to also leave the yard to left field for his first homer of the 2026 season.

The score was suddenly 10-0.

Lane Hunter doubled and Brooks walked to follow before Ryan had an RBI single and Carter Hunter did the same to push the margin to 12-0.

Later in the inning, Cozbey and Hendren each walked to score a run, while Ricke had an RBI single and Lane Hunter had a 2-run double to make it 17-0.

Lane Hunter was 4-of-5 with two doubles, while Brooks also doubled and had two RBIs.

Ricke was 3-for-3 and walked twice, while Cozbey was 2-for-3 with five RBIs.

Hendren drove in three runs and walked three times.

Lincoln's top five hitters in the lineup were a combined 11-of-16 at the plate with three doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored, 14 RBIs, eight walks and eight steals.

Photos by Lee Talley