×

Postseason run ends for Mifflin County

13s fall short in regional semifinals

Sentinel photo by MATT STRICKER
Mifflin County’s Xavier Smith tags out West End’s Deacon Brown as Brown attempts to make it to second base after a single Thursday in Altoona.

ALTOONA — The Mifflin County Babe Ruth 13-year-old all-stars have had some tough losses during the 2019 tournament trail, but the one on Thursday night might have been the toughest.

Mifflin County fell to West End (Williamsport) 5-2 in the Mid-Atlantic final four. Semifinal winner West End will now meet Centre County today for the right to move on to Westfield, Massachusetts, to the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series.

Right from the start, Mifflin County fell behind. West End scored two runs in the first inning as Kaden Shay reached on an error and after a base hit and a hit batter, the bases were loaded. Deacon Brown then hit into a double play that scored a run and Cole Shuler followed with an RBI double.

“We fell behind early,” said Bill Corbin, the Mifflin County manager, “The error at the start of the game looked like a sure out, but you have to live with it.”

Mifflin County did get the game tied by the fourth inning. With two out in the third, Deakon Scheaffer singled, stole second and scored on a Caden Wolfley single.

In the fourth, Ryan Kanagy reached on an error and when Trevor Sheaffer laid down a bunt, Kanagy hustled to third base. Landen Eichhorn then reached on an error and Kanagy tied the game.

West End scored two runs in the fifth inning on two hits, both doubles. Xavier Smith, the Mifflin County starter, gave way to Eichhorn, who finished the game. Eichhorn had a scoreless sixth, but West End added an insurance run in the seventh.

“The difference in the game was that their (West End) balls hit the gaps,” Corbin said, “and our balls got caught.”

Mifflin County only had five hits. Trevor Sheaffer had two, including Mifflin County’s last hit in the sixth. Ryan Hine had Mifflin County’s other hit, a single in the fifth.

“Overall we had a great run,” Corbin said. “It shows how good Babe Ruth is in our area as West End and Centre County played in the same district as we did. Here at the end, we kind of had our problems with injuries and were limited in what we could do.”

West End finished with nine hits.

NOTES: The Mifflin County 13-year-olds finished with a 9-5 record. … Corbin’s all-star record is now 96-41 and his overall record is 707-383. … The game was held up in the sixth inning for half an hour when half the lights at Altoona’s Seitz Field went off. … Mifflin County turned a 6-4-3 double play in the second inning. … In the third inning, Deakon Scheaffer (in center field) and Wolfley (in right field) made outstanding catches. … Mifflin County picked two runners off, one in the sixth inning and one in the seventh.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today