Barre, Sandstone score semifinal wins

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Tyler Gibson slides into home for Barre during this evening’s playoff semifinal win over Vets. Bobby Dysard is the Vets catcher.

One big scoring inning provided the spark in both contests as top seeded Barre and No. 2 Sandstone both scored victories this evening in the semifinals of the Albion Midget League playoffs.

Barre defeated Vets 8-2 and Sandstone downed Carlton by a nearly identical score of 9-2 to advance to the playoff championship game which will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Midget League Field.

Zander Meakin delivers a pitch for Barre.

Barre 8, Vets 2

Breaking away from a 2-2 deadlock, Barre took the lead for good by erupting for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

A double by Tyler Gibson ignited the decisive uprising which was highlighted by a three-run double by Zander Meakin and a two-run home run by Liam Ward. A fielders choice play off the bat of Jake Foote plated the first run of the rally snapping the 2-2 deadlock.

Ward also had an RBI double in the first inning to give Barre a quick 1-0 lead.

Quinten Soto-Thomas of Vets slides safely into second base as Barre shortstop Liam Ward tries to stop the ball.

Vets rallied into a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run homer by Thomas Furmanski.

However, Barre quickly knotted the contest by scoring once in the bottom of the fourth on two walks and a run producing fielders choice play off the bat of Drew Caldwell.

Alex Gibson pitched the first four innings for Barre allowing 1 hit with 9 strikeouts. Meakin came on to hurl the final two frames giving up 1 hit and fanning 4.

Furmanski allowed 2 hits and struck out 9 over the first three innings for Vets.

Patrick Ricker bangs out a hit for Sandstone.

Sandstone 9, Carlton 2

Quickly taking the lead for good, Sandstone erupted for six runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run homer by Rylend Callicutt and RBI singles by Bailey Blanchard and Jake Hughson. A double by Patrick Ricker ignited the uprising.

Callicutt and Blanchard both had 2 hits on the evening.

Christian Doty delivers a pitch for Sandstone.

A trio of pitchers each hurled two innings for Sandstone as starter Christian Doty struck out 5, Zach Colacecchi 4 and Callicutt 6 over the final two frames.

Carlton did take a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a pair of errors.

Delean McCue raps out a hit for Carlton.