ALTOONA - Now the hard part comes for the Mifflin County Babe Ruth 13-year-old all-stars.
Mifflin County lost its last game of pool play in the state tournament Saturday to West End of Williamsport, 11-7. The loss dropped Mifflin County's record to 2-2.
Mifflin County will now have to wait until Monday night to see if it gets into the final round of six, which is single elimination and starts on Tuesday.
Mifflin County took an early 1-0 lead on Saturday as it scored a run in the first inning. Trent Hidlay singled to left field and went to second when the ball got by the outfield. Hidlay scored on the next play as Ty Bodtorf reached on an error.
It stayed 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning. Isaac Maclay had West End shut out for two and two thirds inings and had only given up one hit.
That all ended with two outs and no one on base as Dawson Prough sent a Maclay pitch over the wall to tie the game. Larry Vanstavoren and Jalen Jackson then hit back-to-back doubles and it was 2-1.
West End added two more runs in the fourth to increase its lead to 4-1.
Mifflin County got back on the scoreboard in the fifth. Cade Attick started the inning by reaching on an error. Hidlay followed with an infield single and Bodtorf reached on a fielder's choice. Jordan Marshall then flew out to center for a sacrifice fly. Maclay singled to again load the bases and Jake Spickler knocked in a run by drawing a bases loaded walk.
Attick took over for Maclay on the mound to start the fifth, but his fate was sealed as West End put together a seven-run inning featuring 12 batters and four hits. Mifflin County aided the West End cause by committing three errors and giving up two walks, one intentional.
The big hit came from Vanstavoren. With two on, two outs and the score 7-4, Prough, who had hit a home run earlier in the game, came to the plate. He got an intentional pass to load the bases and the Vanstavoren followed with a three-run double.
West End went to its bench in the seventh inning leading 11-3, but that small opening allowed Mifflin County back in the game.
Colby Kreider opened the inning with a single and went to second on a passed ball. Bodtorf drew a walk and Marshall singled to load the bases. At that point the third West End pitcher, Jacob Zimmerman, was lifted.
Jalen Jackson was asked to finish, but he couldn't shut the door without Mifflin County making some noise.
Maclay reached on a fielder's choice as a run scored. Damon Jasper was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Jonah Kile then bounced into another fielder's choice and Mifflin County scored again.
Ross Underhill then singled to left, knocking in a run, and when the West End left fielder misplayed the ball another run scored. The rally and the game ended as Gage Boreman grounded out to short.
"We had too many errors today," said Fred Zook, the Mifflin County manager, "I was pleased with Isaac and Cade on the mound. They did a good job. I thought we made a nice comeback. We need to go home and rest. We have practice on Monday and hopefully we will be back here on Tuesday."
