ALTOONA - Rhythm, it's a term usually used in a conversation about music. It also can be used in the lexicon of baseball.
Cade Attick, the Mifflin County Babe Ruth 13-year-old pitcher, found his rhythm in the bottom of the first inning and from that point on he was in control of the Brookhaven batters.
Behind the pitching of Attick, Mifflin County won its second game in 'pool' play in the Babe Ruth state tournament as it downed Brookhaven, 10-3, on Thursday in Altoona.
Mifflin County plays its third game of the tournament on Friday at 5 p.m. as it takes on the host team, Altoona.
In the first inning, Attick's control was off the mark as he was high with his pitches. Joseph Hartley-Vittoria opened the game for Brookhaven with a single. Steve Lillis followed with a walk and then Casey Crockett ripped a double and it was 2-0.
Crockett tried to extend his double into a triple, but he was thrown out at third. David Montella and Matt Stokes walked and it looked like Mifflin County was in trouble.
But, from that point on it was all Attick as he found the strike zone. Over the next four and two-thirds innings, he gave up just one hit, struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter.
"We had more extra-base hits today than yesterday," Mifflin County manager Fred Zook explained. "I thought we pitched pretty well today. Once Cade (Attick) got over the first inning jitters, he was outstanding. I though Jasper (Damon) threw hard."
Brookhaven scored its last run in the fourth on a single and two Mifflin County errors.
Mifflin County tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Attick led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a one-out single from Ty Bodtorf. Jordan Marshall and Isaac Maclay drew walks to load the bases and then Bodtorf stole home to tied the game (2-2).
The scored remained tied until the third inning when Brookhaven had some fielding problems.
Bodtorf led off with a double and Marshall reached on an error. Maclay sent the first run home on a ground out.
Jonah Kile singled home a run and Jake Spickler walked to load the bases. Justin Rodkey singled home another run and Ross Underhill kept the pressure on by reaching on a fielder's choice.
Attick drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Trent Hilday walked to load the bases. At that point, Mifflin County had batted around and when Bodtorf walked with the bases loaded, it forced in another run. Marshall and Maclay each reached on errors, which scored three more runs for Mifflin County.
After the Bodtorf walk, Brookhaven changed pitchers and Sahne Piecara took over for David Montella. Piecara didn't give up a run the rest of the game, although he did give up three more hits.
Attick had to come out after five innings because he pitched two innings on Wednesday night as the tournament rules state a pitcher can go seven innings every two games.
Damon Jasper took over for Attick and he struck out three, walked four and didn't give up a hit.
Mifflin County finished with seven hits as Rodkey and Bodtorf each had two. Bodtorf and Rodkey also had the only extra-base hits for Mifflin County, doubles.
