MINERAL RIDGE OH- Mineral Ridge’s AJ Sandy is taking the next step — the longtime Ram is headed to Thiel College to keep playing the game he loves, signing on to become a Tomcat.

From the moment he first stepped on the diamond as a freshman, Sandy’s been a key piece of the Ridge lineup. He started every game at second base in year one and helped lead the squad to a district semifinal. Sophomore year, he made the shift to the outfield and didn’t miss a beat, earning Honorable Mention in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference.

By his junior season, Sandy leveled up. He was named team captain, earned First Team All-MVAC honors, and helped the Rams grab a share of the conference crown while finishing as district runners-up. His play didn’t go unnoticed — he was selected for the YSN All-Star team and entered his senior campaign as a Preseason D6 All-State 2nd Team pick by Prep Baseball Ohio.

Stat-wise, Sandy’s been on a steady climb. As a freshman, he hit .212 with a .422 on-base percentage, 5 stolen bases, and 9 RBI. In his sophomore year, he bumped up to a .240 average with a .415 OBP, 10 steals, and 9 more runs driven in. Junior year, he really found his groove, hitting .308 with a .471 OBP and an .817 OPS, swiping 16 bags, and adding 10 RBI. Defensively, he’s been locked in across multiple positions with a career .985 fielding percentage.

AJ Sandy has built his game on consistency, hustle, and leadership — and now he gets to bring that same energy to the college level.

YSN congratulates Sandy on everything he’s accomplished so far and wishes him nothing but the best in his senior season and his next chapter at Thiel. Go get it, Tomcat.