On May 9th, 1964 a team of 11 players and 2 coaches brought to the small town of Binger something they had never had... a state championship. Binger not only finished the season as champions but also 16-0.
The starting pitcher that day was junior Johnny Bench. Bench threw a 7-inning complete game 2-hitter, walking five and striking out eight. Binger scored all of their runs in the 6th on singles by Harold Sims and Spud Domebo, a squeeze bunt by Jerry Scott and a couple of Dewey errors. Dewey got a run in the bottom of the 6th on a couple of throwing errors to close out the scoring in a Binger 3-1 victory.
Since that day in 1964, Binger / Binger-Oney have brought home seven Spring Baseball State Championships (1964, 1976, 1984, 1992, 2014, 2016 & 2017) and four Fall titles (1987, 1991, 2013 & 2015).
As a senior, Bench almost led his team to the Basketball State Championship, losing in the finals to Oologah 78-63. Bench lead Binger in scoring with 16 in the finals and 48 for the tournament.
Bench said about the championship game "Against, Oologah, we already knew coming in, they averaged 6-4. I remember in the game I went up in the first quarter for a rebound and I hit the rim and I hit the guy's elbow and thought, aww man! We are in trouble. I was about six and three quarters but I could dunk but I knew we were in trouble."
Photo courtesy of OSSAA and article Daily Oklahoman.
