REEDSVILLE - From top to bottom, the Mifflin County 11-12-year-old Little League all-stars feasted on Bald Eagle softball pitching in the District 5 championship game Sunday at Steve Snyder Field.
The locals pounded out a total of 14 hits, scoring 14 runs in the process, and held the Eagles to just six runs in the 14-6 victory. Spearheading the win was a six-run third inning.
Leading the way offensively was Eleana Eckley, going 4-for-4 and collecting two RBIs in the winning effort. Eckley also came in in relief for starting pitcher Laiken Turner to secure the title.
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Sentinel photo by MATT STRICKER
Mifflin County third baseman Hannah Fitzgerald, left, tags out Bald Eagle runner Megan Kresovich in the first inning during the Little League District 5 11-12-year-old softball championship game Sunday in Reedsville.
Even the bench got into the act offensively when Logan Himes hustled out an inside-the-park home run, putting Mifflin County ahead 10-0 at the time.
"We hit the ball from top to bottom in our line up. We have 12 girls who can crush the ball at anytime," Mifflin County coach Travis Eckley said. "They had some timely hits tonight. We got a strong showing tonight. I think we are going to make some noise."
Early on, Turner was very tough on the mound, tossing a two-hitter into the fourth inning and striking out four before being taken out to rest in the fifth.
However, the purple and white made the most of it, scoring the first run in the ball game in their first trip to the plate. Eckley got the game going as she singled one into left field.
Teammate Shelly Bohn put two runners on when she hustled out a soft infield grounder.
After stolen bases by both runners, putting them on second and third, Maddie Amspacker collected an RBI when she grounded into a fielder's choice, making it 1-0.
Turner and the defense held steady in the bottom of the inning, holding Bald Eagle scoreless.
But Mifflin County was just getting warmed up.
In the second inning, Mifflin County doubled its first-inning output.
Hannah Kanagy showed much patience at the plate, walking to lead off the inning. Turner helped her own cause when she also hustled out a grounder in the infield, putting runners on first and third.
After Bald Eagle turned a double play, Sierra McConaughey was hit by a Bald Eagle offering.
With two out, Eckley was cool under pressure, blasting an RBI single. Bohn followed in Eckley's footsteps, smacking an RBI single of her own, upping the Mifflin County lead to 3-0.
The bats remained silent for Bald Eagle in the second.
Offensively, Mifflin County really came alive in the third as it plated six runs.
Camryn Warnick led things off with a single, followed by a walk to Hannah Fitzgerald. Looking like she was caught in a rundown, Warnick recovered and managed to escape home for the first run of the inning.
Others scoring in the inning were Hannah Kanagy, Turner, Ralie Goss and Eckley.
Before the Eagles knew what hit them, Mifflin County had a commanding 9-0 lead.
In the fourth, Himes made it 10-0 with a shot into the outfield that rolled to the fence, allowing her to soar home.
But Bald Eagle got back into the game in the bottom of the inning, plating five and cutting the lead in half.
However, from there Mifflin County continued strong, outscoring its opponent 4-1 the rest of the way for the victory.
Mifflin County advances to the Section 4 tournament, which will be hosted by Bald Eagle. Play in that bracket begins July 3.
