HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL COVERAGE

Indians earn their first district crown since 2002.

Fairfield High CENTERVILLE — School’s baseball team didn’t need a comeback special Saturday afternoon.

Less than 48 hours after using a stirring rally to defeat Kings in a Division I sectional final, the Indians blanked Vandalia Butler 7-0 at Centerville to capture the program’s first district championship since 2002.

“After our emotional game the other night, this is what we needed,” Fairfield coach Tommy Begley said. “We needed Andrew Sams to put us on his back and just take us to this district championship, and that’s exactly what he did. I’m just so proud of him.”

Sams, a senior right-hander headed to Bellarmine University to wrestle, tossed a three-hitter and rarely allowed hard-hit balls by the Aviators (25-5).

Fairfield (22-6), a first-game loser to Elder in last year’s tournament, wasn’t fazed by a weather delay of 146 minutes.

“It feels awesome,” Sams said. “Last year we choked in the playoffs, and it was very disappointing. We always talk about tradition. We really don’t want our season to end until we get to Columbus. Our goals are high.”

Sams struck out six and walked two in a 95-pitch effort for the Indians, who will meet St. Xavier in a 5 p.m. regional semifinal Thursday at the University of Cincinnati’s Marge Schott Stadium.

“I haven’t thrown very good this whole year, but today I finally got it under control and was finally hitting my spots,” Sams said. “I didn’t let the umpires mess with my head.

“I don’t throw too hard, so I really do rely on those guys behind me, and they made awesome plays.”

Noah Bauman doubled, singled and drove in two runs for Fairfield. Brock Mathis added an RBI double.

“Right from the start, we were ready,” said Bauman. “We were hyped for this game. We’re trying to win a state championship, and this was one piece of the state.”