Carlton captures Midget playoff championship

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Drew Boyce, left, and Finn McCue combined to hurl Carlton to a 1-0 shutout victory over Sandstone in the Albion Midget League playoff championship game this evening.

Making a lone first inning run stand up, Carlton nipped Sandstone 1-0 in the Albion Midget League playoff championship game this evening at the Midget League Field.

Drew Boyce opened the game with a double and came in to score on a one out double by Caidyn Wilson for the game’s only run earning Carlton its first playoff title in some 24 years.

The Carlton pitching duo of Boyce and Finn McCue did the rest allowing only one hit and striking out a total of 11. Boyce hurled the first thee innings striking out 4 and Finn the final three frames fanning 7.

Sandstone third baseman Drew Pritchard makes a nifty snowcone catch.

Sandstone’s lone hit came on an infield single by Elliott Trapiss to lead off the sixth inning.

Sandstone’s best scoring opportunity came in the first inning as a hit batter, an error and a walk loaded the bases with one out. However, Carlton quickly got out of the jam as Boyce got the next two batters out on a strikeout and a groundout to McCue at shortstop.

Carlton got the bases loaded in both the third and fifth innings but both times Sandstone pitcher Seth Krenning got a clutch out to end the threat.

A double by McCue, a fielders choice play and a walk loaded the bases for Carlton in the third but a pop out to Krenning ended the inning.

Krenning went the distance on the mound scattering 7 hits and striking out out 9.

Then in the fifth hits by Boyce, McCue and Colin McMullin again loaded the bases for Carlton but a pop out to Drew Pritchard at third got Sandstone out of the jam.

Both teams advanced to the title contest with semifinal round wins over higher seeded teams, Carlton 12-6 over top seeded Barre and Sandstone 13-2 over No. 2 St. Mary’s.

Sandstone’s Nolan Sullivan tags out Carlton’s Drew Boyce at second base.

Carlton’s Finn McCue gets safely back to second base avoiding getting caught in a run down play by Sandstone’s duo of Elliott Trapiss (1) and Nolan Sullivan (31).