Sabota set the Saginaw Valley Conference in scoring record in 1936 when Northern finished with an unbeaten season and won the State Class A basketball championship. A unanimous selection to the All-Valley first team one year after helping the Vikings reach the finals of the 1935 state tournament. Sabota played several seasons of minor league baseball, batting .340 for Tiffin, Ohio in 1939. Hit 16 home runs for the Flint Gems of the Michigan State League in 1940.
