Sandstone claims Midget League playoff title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 July 2021 at 4:31 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Sandstone right fielder Rocco Sidari makes a nifty sliding catch during this afternoon’s Albion Midget League playoff championship game against Rotary.

Bases loaded walks accounted for all of the scoring as Sandstone shutout Rotary 5-0 in the Albion Midget League 12U Division playoff championship game this afternoon at Sandstone.

Omer Fugate went the distance on the mound for Sandstone allowing just one hit and striking to 14.

Omer Fugate hurled a shutout with 14 strikeouts for Sandstone.

Sandstone grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out single by Elliot Trapiss followed by three straight walks. The single was Sandstone’s only hit of the afternoon.

Four more walks plated a run in the bottom of the third inning to make it 2-0.

Sandstone then put a lock on the win on three bases loaded walks in the fifth frame. Another walk, an error and a hit batter loaded the bases to set up the threat.

Trailing just 1-0, Rotary did get the bases loaded with two out in the top of the third inning on three walks but Fugate got out of the jam on a grounder back to the mound.

Sandstone right fielder Rocco Sidari then turned in the defensive play of the day with a sliding catch for the first out in the fourth inning.

Rotary did get two runners aboard in the fifth inning on a single by Declan Meiers and a walk and again in the sixth on a walk and an error but Fugate bore down to get out of both jams with clutch inning ending strikeouts.

Sandstone, which went undefeated during the regular season, advanced to the finals with wins over Barre/Elba 14-11 and Carlton 9-0.

Rotary rebounded from an opening round 8-2 loss to Carlton to defeat Barre/Elba 15-2 and Carlton 10-3 to gain a spot in the title contest.