Sandites come from behind for 8-7 victory over Spartans, McCallie and Mongtomery hit homers
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Sandites (15-3) and Spartans (12-3) went head to head for the third time in under a week in a district match up at Sand Springs Tuesday night. The Charles Page High School baseball team trailed for most of the game, frequently tying it up, but didn't take the lead till the final pitch of the game.
In the Bixby Tournament Friday night the Spartans defeated the Sandites 4-1 but Sand Springs retaliated with a 10-6 victory for the tournament championship Saturday night to end the Spartans' ten-game win streak.
In Monday night's home game the Sandites gave up a 2-0 lead to the Spartans in the first and had to fight from bottom for the duration of the game. Jake Ward got the start on the mound and hit the first two batters with the pitch to walk them. Tanner Griffin sacrificed to bring home Gavin Staton and Cade Cavalli sacrificed to score Breydon Daniel before the Sandites fielded a third out.
The Sandites returned the favor in the bottom of the inning as Sandite of the Week Rhett Rutledge reached on a fielder's choice and Hunter Greathouse singled to bring him home. Then, Greathouse came home on a passed ball to even the score.
The second inning was a no-hitter for both teams, but Bixby reclaimed their lead in the third as Staton doubled on an error and came home on a Daniel single. Once more the Sandites weren't content to leave an inning in the hole and Rutledge doubled before coming in on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fourth AJ Parker and Braden Hackler both singled and Staton walked to load the bases. Daniel struck out but Griffin singled to score Parker for the 4-3 lead. Ward struck out Cavalli and Nic Swanson as well.
Tyler McCallie hit his first home-run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game back up but once more the Spartans reclaimed the lead as Jeremy Goodwin stole home in the next inning. This time the Sandites would fail to land a hit and remained in the hole going into the sixth.
Daniel lined out to Rutledge at short to start the sixth and Griffin grounded out to Rutledge. Then, Cade Cavalli went to bat and drew a walk. He survived three pickoff attempts before coming in on a double by Swanson, who in turn came in on a single by Matthew Henderson for a 7-4 lead.
The Sandites had their most impressive inning yet in the bottom of the sixth and Trevor Tolbert singled and came in on a Joey Montgomery home run. Mack Thompson singled and took second on a passed ball. Rutledge and Ward were both hit by pitch to load the bases. Thompson came home on a balk with Greathouse at bat to tie things up 7-7 but Greathouse flied out to right field to strand the runners.
Brock Youngblood relieved Ward on the mound and pitched a no-hitter and it came down to the bottom of the seventh. Taber was walked, Trevor Tolbert flied out, Montgomery singled, McCallie grounded out, and Thompson walked to load the bases with two outs. Treyce Tolbert came to bat and was walked to score Taber for the win.
The Sandites return to action tomorrow evening, once more at Bixby.
